Academia has finally confirmed what we have known for years. I personally feel that PowerPoint is not at fault, it is the presenter. I’ve seen many outstanding PowerPoints in my day, but the majority of folks never take the time to learn what it means to engage and audience effectively.
 From Information Week:
“The brain simply isn’t wired to absorb information in two simultaneous forms as well as it takes in one type of information. Processing the written and spoken word at the same time creates quite a challenge for the mind, according to John Sweller, a researcher from the University of New South Wales.
……
Sweller crafted the Cognitive Load Theory, which deals with the amount of information people can process at once. Sweller believes it is more difficult to process language and retain new information simultaneously.
What really tunes the brain out during PowerPoint? Speaking the same words that are on the screen, according to Sweller.”
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Interesting.
With regard to applications try Keynote instead of PowerPoint. Much better.
On presenting there are a couple of great reads here and here.
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