There are effective and ineffective ways to use visual aids in presentations.
Ineffective use is very common in both academia and industry.
Good visuals used in the right way can help your audience stay attentive and retain information. The tips below will help you decide when and how to effectively use overhead projectors and slides, blackboards, handouts, and computer programs like PowerPoint. It can be tempting to spend more time preparing visual aids than presentation content. The result may be insubstantial and distracting - and the higher the technology, the more things can go wrong. It is important to maintain contact with your audience and remember that you, not your visual aids, are giving the presentation.