Projector Light - Blanking the Screen

It happened again last night. The screen was placed in the middle of the front wall and the projector was positioned in the aisle between two rows of seats. This seems to be the typical layout of a room where a presenter plans to display PowerPoint slides, a video, or photos.

One of the presenters turned on the projector and kept it on during the entire presentation -- even though they used it for less than 1/2 of his presentation. Apparently, oblivious to them, they walked past the projector screen which blocked the screen while projecting a bright light onto their body. In fact, one of the presenters, stood directly in front of the projector during her talk and for the entire talk, the light of projector was shining the entire time on an rather inappropriate spot on the body.

As a presenter, you should blank the screen if you walk back and forth in front of the projector and when you are not using the projector. This can be a distraction from your presentation and it should be

If a presenter is not using the screen, there are 3 simple ways to turn off (or blank the screen). The presenter should:

1. Check the projector remote to see if the lamp can be switched off and on without turning off the projector.
   
   
2. If not, some of the newer presentation remotes for the computer may have a feature
   to blank the screen.
   
   
3. If all else fails and even if you are not using PowerPoint but another visual aid such as a video, load PowerPoint and then immediately click on Slide Show and then View Show.
   Finally, you can press [B] key to toggle between the show or a blank screen. Of course, if you are using PowerPoint, all you need to do is to press the [B] key.
   
   Two important considerations if you are using a visual aid other than PowerPoint. First, the View Show must be activated even if it is a blank screen. If you simply load PowerPoint, you will be in edit mode and the [B] key will not work. You must have a slide show, even a blank one, activated.
   
   Next, if you are using another visual aid, such as a vidio, photo slide show, etc., the [B] is not work. Thus, you should set up the alternate visual aid and then [Alt][Tab] to return to the PowerPoint show (not the PowerPoint application) if you want to blank the screen. Then if you want to return, [Alt][Tab] to your application.

Ciao, Frank

Conquering Fear of Public Speaking -- 5 Points

I found these 5 points someone said on how to conquer the fear of public speaking. For the most part I agree with what this person said; however, I have some disagreements. To begin, I personally don't like to use the term "conquer" when discussing the fear of speaking in public. We conquer "real fear," i.e. the fear of a predator, earthquake, tidal wave or another circumstance in which we can loss our lives. The fear of speaking in front of a group is real for those who have the fear, but it is a perceived fear. We don't have to conquer this fear, but we can transcend this perceived fear.

• Prepare, prepare, prepare! Don't wing it! Prepare an outline of what you want to say and practice it.
  Absolutely, we need to prepare and I like this person's choice of "Prepare an outline" rather than writing a speech, which others do. I agree 100%.
  
  
• Be specific and talk about the things you know best. Don't try to teach people everything you do. Focus on no more than two or three areas of what you want them to learn about. Most importantly, cover the topics you feel you understand the best. This will reduce some of your stress.
  Again, I absolutely agree with the first part. Talk about what you know best. In that way, we can engage the audience by talking from the heart, and of course, if we know the topic, we should be less fearful of forgetting or saying something that is wrong. Also, I agree in not teaching our audience everything we know.
  
  That's why you should write your speech. Not to read it or memorize it, but to make the speech as concise as possible. The first time, I had to present a report to FLACS (FLorida section of the American Chemical Society), I wrote the first draft. If I had read that speech, it would have taken at least 30 minutes, but I had 3 (three) minutes. Finally, after working on my speech-- and practicing it -- I gave a well-received presentation.
  
  
• Use handouts, visuals or PowerPoint slides to support your presentation. For people who are worried about stage fright, these props can help carry them through the talk.
  This is where I tend to disagree. Too often, a presenter relies on the PowerPoint slides, or other props, as a crutch to get him/her through the presentation. Certainly, these aids will carry us through the talk -- but at what sacrifice? If we rely on these aids, we are not engaging the audience. We are not conversing with the audience and the focus is on the visual aids instead of us. Though it will appear to be an oxymoron, we can lower our anxiety by conversing with, rather than presenting to, our audience. "But, I'm frighten to make eye contact. I'm more comfortable behind the lectern and showing slides." How and why do we talk one-on-one with comfort? By eye contact and engaging each other. When we are conversing with our friends, do we have a set of slides to show our friend? If we did, it would be more of a one way "conversation." Conversation is, inherently, two ways. Even though our audience does not verbally converse with us, if we converse with them, then they are engaged and relaxed, and in turn, we are relaxed.
  
  
• Remember, you're the expert. Think about ways that help show that and are not threatening for you.
  I, again, totally agree. If we know our topic, we are -- at least for the moment -- the expert. The best way, in my opinion, to show this is to converse with, rather than present to, our audience.
  
  
• Be creative. Think of some way to communicate the information in a way you feel comfortable.
  This is the one point I do not agree with. To me, this is an oxymoron. If we are creative, don't we step out of our "comfort" zone? I would suggest that we do not be creative until we have the experience and confidence in speaking front of groups. Simply be conversational and we will be fine.

Ciao, Frank