Well done piece. Enjoyed the "OZ" comparisons very much. I recently wrote a paper entitled "To PowerPoint or Not to PowerPoint: That is the Question." The original designer of PowerPoint never intended for the program to have templates. The program was to contain blank slides for the creator's ideas. The templates were started when MicroSoft purchased the program. Studies conducted by MS revealed that people were having a hard time coming up with their own ideas and needed a prescribed jumping off point; hence the templates. I liked Braider's comment, "When you have a hammer like that [PowerPoint], everything else becomes a nail." I still contend it's not the program itself - it's the way people use it. Thought provoking piece and still timely as PowerPoint abuse continues.
There are some great ideas embedded in this piece, I just think it needs to pick a direction (commentary/reporting) and tighten up its focus.
At first, I thought all the sound effects were a bit annoying, but that annoyance makes a clever point later in the piece.
Writing and production are fine with the exception of some inconsistent audio levels and some occasional distortion.
The piece is interesting, but like power-point, a bit jarring with the inter-cutting of sound files. Not a smooth piece, but good nonetheless. As an anttendee of many events with power-point presentations, I do agree that the best use of the software is to not put your most important points in it. Further, the over use of power-point shows the continued decline of public speaking skills in America.
I thought that the piece made for a very interesting commentary about the way that communication can be lost in the enthusiasm that accompanies new ways to communicate ideas. It was short and sweet, and didn't overstay its welcome. The point about the sounds effects was amusing and well-made.
It sometimes seemed as though the sound got louder and quieter as the piece progressed, so that I was having to turn the volume on my computer up and down a little when the piece switched between the main commentary what sounded like a telephone interview. The voice that was reading the power-point parts was kind of muffled, and sometimes unintelligible.
This would be a really fun little piece to hear between longer segments.
Comments for PowerPoint at Gettysburg, rev.
Produced by Jackson Braider
Other pieces by Jackson Braider
Rating Summary
4 comments
Deborah Astley
Posted on June 10, 2005 at 12:48 PM | Permalink
Review of PowerPoint at Gettysburg, rev.
Well done piece. Enjoyed the "OZ" comparisons very much. I recently wrote a paper entitled "To PowerPoint or Not to PowerPoint: That is the Question." The original designer of PowerPoint never intended for the program to have templates. The program was to contain blank slides for the creator's ideas. The templates were started when MicroSoft purchased the program. Studies conducted by MS revealed that people were having a hard time coming up with their own ideas and needed a prescribed jumping off point; hence the templates. I liked Braider's comment, "When you have a hammer like that [PowerPoint], everything else becomes a nail." I still contend it's not the program itself - it's the way people use it. Thought provoking piece and still timely as PowerPoint abuse continues.
Eric Nuzum
Posted on June 30, 2004 at 02:17 AM | Permalink
Review of PowerPoint at Gettysburg
There are some great ideas embedded in this piece, I just think it needs to pick a direction (commentary/reporting) and tighten up its focus.
At first, I thought all the sound effects were a bit annoying, but that annoyance makes a clever point later in the piece.
Writing and production are fine with the exception of some inconsistent audio levels and some occasional distortion.
Hilary Bonial
Posted on December 11, 2003 at 11:57 AM | Permalink
Review of PowerPoint at Gettysburg
The piece is interesting, but like power-point, a bit jarring with the inter-cutting of sound files. Not a smooth piece, but good nonetheless. As an anttendee of many events with power-point presentations, I do agree that the best use of the software is to not put your most important points in it. Further, the over use of power-point shows the continued decline of public speaking skills in America.
Kate Thomas
Posted on November 17, 2003 at 03:58 PM | Permalink
Review of PowerPoint at Gettysburg
I thought that the piece made for a very interesting commentary about the way that communication can be lost in the enthusiasm that accompanies new ways to communicate ideas. It was short and sweet, and didn't overstay its welcome. The point about the sounds effects was amusing and well-made.
It sometimes seemed as though the sound got louder and quieter as the piece progressed, so that I was having to turn the volume on my computer up and down a little when the piece switched between the main commentary what sounded like a telephone interview. The voice that was reading the power-point parts was kind of muffled, and sometimes unintelligible.
This would be a really fun little piece to hear between longer segments.