Critique My Plan - Using PPT as teleprompter

[jackjohansson]

I have to give a talk in church, (aside from the possible scandal of
having a laptop on the podium with me.. you know, I would not be being
humble by having a laptop... -whatever-, that topic for another
newsgroup. If it makes you feel better pretend I am going to use it
to give a speach in School) and I have pretty much decided I am going
to try and use the laptop as a teleprompter. I want to try it so I
can have better eye contact with congregation, and better control of my
"notes".

Here is what I am thinking of doing, please critique:

First of all how I write a talk: I usually write out a very rough
version, then rewrite a few times, and then break it down into a
note-outline. On that note-outline I also have any quotes word for
word that I will need. I typically just look at this 8-1/2 by 11 paper
as I proceed through the talk. I can usually fit it on one sheet,
maybe 2.

I will prepare as I have in the past, but when I distill it down to the
note-outline, I will put each note "point" on a pp slide. I will also
put the quotes on the slide. The great thing is that with PP I am not
limited by space/number of slides, so I can put very large font on each
slide, so I can just glance at it and read it quite well, much easier
than continuing to look down at paper with small font. I have one of
those remote controls about the size of a small pack of gum, I will
have it discreetly in my hand. I will use it to advance the slide,
never have to touch the keys of the laptop(which may well be
distracting to the congregation). I will just have it booted up and
ready to go, when I walk up, set it on the stand, open, and start
clicking through the slides (screen facing me).

Due to the way I talk, and my tendency to go extemporanious(sp?), I
will not have it timed, but manually advance each slide. I will also
not be reading word for word off the screen except for quotes or
scripture verses, the rest is literally just an outline, with two or 3
word reminders on each slide.

Of course I will have my traditional paper notes in my pocket and be
able to seamlessly jump over to them at the first sign of any trouble.
Aside from the obvious battery failure/computer crash, can anyone else
see any potential problems with this plan. I run PP 2002 sp-1.

 

[Austin Myers]

One question, Why?



Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Solutions to Multimedia in PowerPoint www.pfcmedia.com

 

[jackjohansson]

I think I mentioned, I hate rustling papers on the stand, I always seem
to lose my place, and more importantly, by setting the laptop on the
podium, with screen up, it is just below the line-of-site with the
congregation, I can glance down, pick up the few words from the notes
to keep my place, then continue eye contact. I like speaking, and
enjoy the eye contact, and I think most would agree it makes a speech
more interesting, to see the speakers eyes.

Another great reason, it will force me to get my talk written early,
just so I can try this. I have, on occasion been scribbling notes in
the car... I can pull it off, but I always wish I had done better. I
think this will force me to prepare much better.

I guess I just always like trying something new... and since I am
learning PPT, I am thinking of ways to use it. I already use it in my
Sunday School class, but not in the traditional way. I just write a
single scripture verse, or one or two word concepts on slides. I then
just set my laptop on the table in front of the class, I use a
uber-large font, the single verse citation will fill the screen. That
way I don't have to rely on my horrible handwriting to write the verses
on the board. I still use the chalkboard in the traditional way,
writing the classes input, drawing simple concepts, etc. I don't have
any kind of projection system in the room, but this is very useful, and
even those on the back row can easily read the referance.

I am also the guy who wants to set the laptop trackside as I run laps
so I can easily see my lap times, and not have to carry a stopwatch.

I am aslo making a very large countdown presentation to use when my
kids are in timeout.. so they can watch as their time counts down.

I am also in charge of a youth "American Idol" like event at church.
I do have access to a nice multi-media projector for that. I am going
to hang a strip 3 foot by 10 foot strip of paper (off those big rolls
of paper your elementary art teacher had) then rear project an animated
background and custom logo onto the paper, so the audience will see
that going above the singer's head. I may even make each singer's
names on it. That is a few months down the road, and I am still
figuring out how to do it.. but I believe it can be done. It will
just be fun, and add a little production value to the night

So to answer your question again, I do not work in an office, and never
have, and likely never will use PPT for traditional business type
presentations, but I am just infatuated with the power the program
presents for someone like me to just play with. So that is what I am
doing, having fun, experimening, trying to be creative, and using this
really cool technology anyway I can.

Thats why.

..

 

[Austin Myers]

Thats why.

Hmmm, if you say so. <g>


Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Solutions to Multimedia in PowerPoint www.pfcmedia.com

 

[jackjohansson]

Don't worry, you can still use it for charts of statistic and pie
charts on revenue projections if you want to!

 

[Austin Myers]

Never touch'em



Austin Myers
MS PowerPoint MVP Team

Solutions to Multimedia in PowerPoint www.pfcmedia.com

 

[emerald_dragonfly]

This wouldn't by chance be the LDS church would it?

I say go for it. Sounds like a great idea to me!

 

[Bill Dilworth]

It can be done, pretty much as you have said, but I'd recommend not letting
the technology overwhelm the content. Before getting up there, you need to
rehearse the talk , there simply is no substitute for proper speaker
preparation. A good talk with no PowerPoint is much better than the best
PowerPoint with a poor talk. This applies doubly if the audience can not
see the PowerPoint.

So, my concern for what you have described is more along the lines of
placements, angles and distances. Where will the laptop be placed that it
will be 1) close enough to read, 2) out of plain view of the congregation,
and 3) in a location that will not make it look like the carpet is holding
your attention? I would strongly suggest not placing you laptop on the
pulpit, since some people may be affronted (silly, but true) and other
people may see that as you not being prepared and just reading from
something you tossed together. Of course, I present this all as just my
personal opinions.


PowerPoint can be used to run a teleprompter set-up, allowing notes to be
viewed by a presenter. The small remote is an excellent idea, but practice
with it, so that you know how long to push the button to avoid 3 or 4 slide
jumps. I would suggest a screen larger than most laptops come with. I've
seen a set-up in a church where they placed three 25" TV's across the front
(in front of the congregation, hidden by a rail) that were all showing the
same teleprompt. This helps avoid the 'staring at one spot' impression that
could result from only one screen.

My suggestion, have at it. And post back with what you experience. I'd
like to heard how things go.

--
Bill Dilworth
A proud member of the Microsoft PPT MVP Team
Users helping fellow users.
http://billdilworth.mvps.org
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yahoo. FAQ pages. They answer most
com of our questions.
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..
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[porter rockwell]

Did it, it worked really well.

(to answer the one who asked... yes I am LDS, we are a peculiar people
aren't we)

My biggest hangup was that I had never printed out a presentation with
multiple slides per page, which I needed to do to have backup on paper
in event of computer failure. I finally figured it out, I had gotten
up at 6am to finish it.. then was printing it a little later than I had
hoped and had a flash of panic, but I finally got it.

There were really only 2 issues, and they were very minor. I put my
little remote in the pouch on my laptop case, and realized it has a
huge, and loud velcro top. I did not want to open it during the
meeting, as it would have been a really loud RRRRippppp. I took about
5 minutes and worked my finger under the fastener and literally opened
it one thread at a time so there was no noise. I realized my problem
early enough that it was no major deal, I got it out on time.

The other minor issue, I gesture a lot when I speak... sometimes
wildly. I found with the clicker in my right hand I was afraid to use
it to gesture, so it ended up on the pulpit most of the time. I
didn't want to set down the clicker as the pulpit was finished wood,
and on an angle and I am pretty sure it would have slid off. Next
time I will glue a little sticky liner stuff on bottom so I would feel
comfortable setting it down the clicker.

Other than that it really worked well. Congregation didn't seem to
take much notice of it, (of course we had a stake President who always
speaks from his laptop, so they are used to it. He uses it like a more
traditional paper set of notes, and just reads MS word documents, I
think this way is much better)

I also decided to cut out about a third of the talk on the fly, that is
where it was the most valuable.. with just a rapid series of clicks I
jumped over what I was cutting out, and moved on seamlessly.

I think I will use it next time.