Using Audio Visual Aids for a Presentation
Guidelines to Engage the Audience and Illustrate Points in a Speech
Jun 9, 2009
“A picture speaks a thousand words,” states the aphorism. Visual presentation aids can be an essential part of giving speeches, and when used correctly, can drive home key points and enhance persuasive speaking.
Types of Audio and Visual Aids
Audio and visual aids can be as simple or as complex as the speaker desires. Simple aids include charts, graphs, and key points drawn on chart paper, handouts for the audience, clips of music or video, or props used by the presenter on stage.
Other audio visual aids include Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, Windows Movie Maker files, slideshows, mashups of video and music or speech, and training videos. Basic guidelines will help the presenter use these aids most effectively.
Psychological Impact of Color in Presentations
Light backgrounds with dark colors have the most impact, and give better visual acuity. This is especially important when making a presentation in a large auditorium. Black, blue, red, and green are the colors most visually appealing. They also give a psychological impact.
- Black implies that the presenter is serious, knowledgeable, and professional. It is a no-frills choice for simple presentations.
- Blue gives the impression of trustworthiness and being accessible. When trust is important, blue is the best choice.
- Red is a power color. It infers the presenter is in charge and it can also be used as a motivational tool to spur listeners and viewers to action.
- Green is the color of choice when dealing with earth-friendly topics. It is also the color of comfort, life, and money. Presentations about increasing sales often include shades of green.
Other colors should be used as accents and accessories to liven up the presentation.
Fill the Screen with Visuals
When preparing a visual presentation, ensure the screen will be large enough for the room or auditorium in which the speech will be held. Zooming in and enlarging photos and clip art to full screen size gives a big impact. It is also a way to focus on a particular feature the speaker wants to emphasize, such as a facial expression or a sales figure.
Sentences should be written as bullet points in large type.
- Bullet points are easy to read.
- Bullet points target the key ideas.
- Bullet points are easier for the audience to remember.
Perfect Timing for Visuals
PowerPoint and other digital presentations allow the speaker to bring out key visuals exactly at the time they are needed. Showing the visuals too early is distracting to the audience. Effective speakers make a point, then use a wireless mouse to click on the picture or clip that illustrates the point. Using a wireless mouse ensures a smooth transition in the presentation. The visual is left on the screen until the next point is made.
Using Sound in a Presentation
It can annoy the audience to have silly or grating sounds as slideshow transitions. It can be distracting to have a different type of sound for each slide transition. Keeping the sound for transitions to a minimum keeps the audience focused on the points being made in the speech.
Audio clips should be kept short, utilizing the part that drives the message home. During audio clips, members of the audience may stop paying attention or engage in sidebar conversations. Keeping clips short and interspersing them throughout the presentation gives them more impact.
Public speeches are much more interesting when visual and audio aids are included. The speaker appeals to three levels of learning; auditory, visual, and verbal. Keeping these guidelines in mind when creating audio visual aids will make the presentation effective, powerful, and memorable.
For more information on presentation skills, read "Mastering Public Speaking."
Also see "How to Write a Good Speech."
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