Page 232 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

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Visual Aids
Visual aids significantly improve the quality of a presentation. However, they
must be relevant, and only support what is being orally said. They must add
impact and clarity to the point you are making and enhance the verbal mes-
sage. You should be sure that the audience benefits from these visual aids
Some of the visual aids that can be used are:
• A black board
• Charts and real objects that can be passed around
• Video, film, and 35 mm slides
• Computer projection (Powerpoint, applications such as Excel, etc)

• Overhead projection transparencies (OHPs)
Visual aids should be very prudently used. Unnecessary and improper use
of these aids may end up in confusing the audience and worse still if you are
yourself confused. Before beginning, make sure you know when to and more
importantly how to operate the equipment.
Too much information on slides and OHPs should be avoided as it tends
to distract the audience’s attention from what is being said.

The Over Head Projector

The advantage of using an OHP is that while using it, you can still have face
to face contact with the audience. You can also modify the transparencies
during the presentations and store them in folders.
The transparency material is not very expensive. At the same time, there
are a few disadvantages of using OHPs. The OHP is too heavy to transport
and the transparencies though not expensive, are difficult to store. OHP is
considered to be ‘less professional’ than slides in a formal setting.

The Slide Projector
Slide projectors are considered to be ‘more professional’ than the OHP. Many
kinds of materials (photography, video frame, slide scanner, etc.) can be cap-
tured or copied. However, there is also the disadvantage of having no face-
to-face contact with the audience, since the projector is placed at the back of
the room. Another drawback is that the room has to be darkened.
Visual aids when used properly can enhance the audience’s interest and
contribute significantly to the success of a presentation.

Computer Projection

Computer Projection is best suited to all types of presentations. The date
can be convieniently carried in laptops which in turn can be attached to an

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