Audio/Visual Guide for Presenters

Standard Meeting Room Set-up

• Data (LCD) projector to project computer system
• Laptop computer (512 MB RAM)
• Screen
• Laser pointer
• Microphone at lectern
• Lavaliere microphone

Computer Presentation Guidelines

• We recommend using our PC computer for your presentation.
• If using our computer, presentations must be in Power Point for Windows format, on a USB Memory Stick, PC floppy disk, PC CD-ROM, or Zip disk.
• Please give your disk to the projectionist well in advance of your presentation so that it can be loaded. Preloading MUST be done the day prior to your presentation in the Speaker Ready Room, Terrace Salon One.
• The session laptop computer will be located in the front of the room. You will advance your own slides.
• The data projector will accommodate up to XGA resolution.
• If using a MAC program, you should provide a disk in PC (IBM) format or use your own computer.
• If using your own computer, please make arrangements to test it with our projector well in advance before the meeting starts.
• If using our computer, you will need to turn over your USB Memory Stick, floppy disk, CD-ROM, or Zip disk to the projectionist so that it can be loaded before your presentation.
• It is recommended that you bring a backup disk of your presentation, as well as a set of overhead transparencies in case of computer failure.
• If using a CD-ROM, make sure the CD is in Read mode. Try running your presentation on different computers.
• If you wish to practice in the Speaker Ready Room, bring your own laptop computer.
• PowerPoint presentations with video clips must be identified in a single Windows file folder along with the PowerPoint program itself. Please advise us when using clips.

General Slide Preparation Guidelines for all Presenters

• If possible, work with an expert in the preparation of your slide materials.
• Slides are useful if they contain only enough information to illustrate one major idea, are visible even in the last row of a large auditorium, and show something that can't be explained as well without a slide.
• Keep the layout simple, with plenty of open space.
• Space between lines should be at least the height of a capital letter.
• Limit messages on slides to seven lines or less. Do not use more than seven words per line. Two or more simple slides are better than one complicated slide.
• Keep illustrations simple.
• Avoid fonts that are too small or too large or that are difficult to read. Windows users should use TrueType fonts.
• White or yellow lettering on a blue background is attractive and easy to read. Avoid red and green text. Shading of the text or background to highlight certain words is appropriate, but avoid glaring contrasts in color. Whenever possible, test on a projection system.
• Commercialism is to be avoided on the slides.

Questions about your presentation?
Contact Lou Winant:
E-mail: lou@worldnet.att.net