The rapid emergence of digital visual information in past decades is causing a dramatic shift in our styles of communication. We "speak" now with more than words. In fact, words are falling farther and farther behind in their ability to truly capture the depth and meaning of our messages. In some communities, 911 callers can now send pictures or video of the scene. An event can happen somewhere in the world, be captured by video or picture, and circulate around the globe within hours, if not minutes. The "picture is worth a 1000 words" cliche is almost irrelevant now because pictures ARE our words.

What are the implications of this shift for presentation, especially for those of us using software such as PowerPoint? Needless to say, the implications are profound. Visual components are becoming so common in modern messages that presentation professionals are beginning to use the phrase visual communication to describe the phenomenon. Rich visual elements MUST be a part of your expression to audiences, now and into the foreseeable future. If not, how will those bullet point-filled slides compete for interest with what people are watching on television, in movie theatres, in the Internet, or even on their cell phones and PDAs.

As modern presenters we need to quickly face a stark reality. In the past, exchanges of ideas revolved around writing, typing and talking; now our messages need to incorporate a significant amount of meaningful visual content, along with appropriate use of color, shapes, and movement. Text-based slides are not enough.

"Ok. Fine," you say. "I'll throw some pictures on my slides and maybe add a video clip or animation here or there. What's the big deal?" True visual communication is more than simply making slide shows pretty and adding media. For a picture to be useful like a word (or sentence or paragraph), the presenter must be able to access it quickly and spontaneously, as if forming a word on the tongue. In other words, it doesn't matter if we have 10,000 pictures sitting somewhere on our computer. If we can't find exactly the right one, at the right moment, to make a point or answer a question, those pictures are meaningless.

That's where the Relational Presentation process plays a critical role. If you are a salesperson selling a piece of equipment, can you show me a short video of that equipment in use, within a context relevant to me? Can you do it RIGHT NOW, no matter what slide show you happen to be in at the moment?. Can you show me a picture of a product that we just started talking about? Can you display that famous portrait from the 17th century that someone just asked about in your art history class? Can you give me a chart showing last quarter's numbers for the Pennsylvania retail branch office #285?

If the above flexibility is not a part of your current presentation strategies, Relational Presentation may be right for you. They offer that kind of flexibility and power, transforming static public speeches into visually dynamic conversations that are customized to the interests and needs of viewers...more