TView makes affordable, top quality scan converters that transfer computer images to big screen TVs and projectors. Many of their customers are casual computer users, such as sales professionals or educators, who are far more interested in their audience then the technology.
My task was to redesign TView's manuals for those who are least inclined to read them--their customers. I had to make the information exact and extraordinarily easy to find. I began by throwing out as much as I could, hunting out the inconsistencies, and simplifying both information and language.
For truly first time users, I designed highly visual Quick Cards to get them up and running without cracking a manual. I rehearsed what they'd be going through, especially if they never opened the box until their class or presentation was about to start. I spelled out all necessary steps and made sure the diagrams were clear and simple.
Then I lead them back to the manual as a resource for even better presentations.
Good presentations are part art and part science, but experienced, successful presenters tend to follow some fairly simple rules. Whether you're using The Presenter Series with a Mac or with a PC, these guidelines will help you build a better presentation:
Keep it simple. Use large pictures and characters.
Use large fonts. They are more easily read. We recommend fonts of at least 18 point.
True Type or ATM fonts are a good choice when using Windows or the Macintosh.
Use motion to add interest to your presentations.
Avoid intense backgrounds. Pastel backgrounds provide palatable contrasts.
Avoid red colors. Televisions do not display reds as accurately as they display greens and blues.
Use solid colors rather than dithered colors for backgrounds. You can increase the number of solid color choices available by using a video card that supports 256, 32,000, 64,000 or 16.7 million colors.
Don't use the entire screen for your presentations. Leaving some room around the edges will help take into account the different video formats and extreme overscan that some televisions have.
Get there early.
Whenever you can, set up well before the class or meeting begins.
Check your prepared screens for overscan on the television or video
projector you'll actually be using. Making any adjustments ahead of
time will help hold your audience's attention on the presentation,
not the technology.
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