It has been said that Power Point slides have become the primary communication tool in the US military, and in other militaries, too. It’s certainly endemic in the corporate world, and quite a few folks are less than thrilled with the results. Information presentation guru Edward Tufte’s “PowerPoint is Evil” article in WIRED’s September 2003 issue presented a powerful argument, and Proceedings’ December 2004 issue featured a plea from a retired US Navy captain for a military-wide stand-down.
It may be that, to quote the semi-joking adage, “No bastard ever won a war by making viewgraph slides for his country. He won it by making the other poor bastard make slides for his country.” The truth is, slide presentations are here to stay. Alternatives should indeed be encouraged – but when slides must be used, it is possible to use them well.
As a service to our readers in the military and the corporate world, here are a few links designed to help make you better presenters…
Releases or articles that clearly explain a contract or product milestone make a big difference to media pickup, and organizational branding. DID supports the Plain English Campaign, which counts the UK Ministry of Defence as an official member who has benefited from applying their principles. QinetiQ North America’s subsidiary Westar Aerospace & Defense Group Inc. hasn’t earned the same Crystal Mark, but their recent release provides another example of Plain English at work. The firm recently received a one-year, $13.3 million task order to provide “technical services, and systems engineering and management expertise to the Apache Attack Helicopter Project Manager’s Office (PMO).” Westar’s release explains in plain English:
“Westar, which has been fulfilling Army Aviation task orders for more than 18 years, will… support the PMO to ensure that all software (i.e. weapons, navigation, radar, flight control displays, countermeasures and on-board mission planning systems) have the most relevant and safest software available for use throughout the Army Active, Reserve and National Guard components. “Before any changes are made to the Apache, whether it’s a modification to the entire fleet or to a single aircraft, our job is to support engineering recommendations that ensure the strictest of system specification requirements are met. That’s our area of expertise,” said Kurt Heine, Vice President, EXPRESS Programs, Westar Aerospace & Defense Group.”
Crystal clear communication of competence. Congratulations.
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AH-64, Afghanistan
Releases or articles that clearly explain a contract or product milestone make a big difference to media pickup, and organizational branding. DID supports the Plain English Campaign, which counts the UK Ministry of Defence as an official member who has benefited from applying their principles. QinetiQ North America’s subsidiary Westar Aerospace & Defense Group Inc. hasn’t earned the same Crystal Mark, but their recent release provides another example of Plain English at work. The firm recently received a one-year, $13.3 million task order to provide “technical services, and systems engineering and management expertise to the Apache Attack Helicopter Project Manager’s Office (PMO).” Westar’s release explains in plain English:
“Westar, which has been fulfilling Army Aviation task orders for more than 18 years, will… support the PMO to ensure that all software (i.e. weapons, navigation, radar, flight control displays, countermeasures and on-board mission planning systems) have the most relevant and safest software available for use throughout the Army Active, Reserve and National Guard components. “Before any changes are made to the Apache, whether it’s a modification to the entire fleet or to a single aircraft, our job is to support engineering recommendations that ensure the strictest of system specification requirements are met. That’s our area of expertise,” said Kurt Heine, Vice President, EXPRESS Programs, Westar Aerospace & Defense Group.”
Crystal clear communication of competence. Congratulations.
AH-64, Afghanistan
Releases or articles that clearly explain a contract or product milestone make a big difference to media pickup, and organizational branding. DID supports the Plain English Campaign, which counts the UK Ministry of Defence as an official member who has benefited from applying their principles. QinetiQ North America’s subsidiary Westar Aerospace & Defense Group Inc. hasn’t earned the same Crystal Mark, but their recent release provides another example of Plain English at work. The firm recently received a one-year, $13.3 million task order to provide “technical services, and systems engineering and management expertise to the Apache Attack Helicopter Project Manager’s Office (PMO).” Westar’s release explains in plain English:
“Westar, which has been fulfilling Army Aviation task orders for more than 18 years, will… support the PMO to ensure that all software (i.e. weapons, navigation, radar, flight control displays, countermeasures and on-board mission planning systems) have the most relevant and safest software available for use throughout the Army Active, Reserve and National Guard components. “Before any changes are made to the Apache, whether it’s a modification to the entire fleet or to a single aircraft, our job is to support engineering recommendations that ensure the strictest of system specification requirements are met. That’s our area of expertise,” said Kurt Heine, Vice President, EXPRESS Programs, Westar Aerospace & Defense Group.”
Crystal clear communication of competence. Congratulations.
