on powerpoint

information aesthetics points us to a study on processing information by researchers at the University of NSW in Sydney. They've found that the brain processes and retains information better if that information is presented in either verbal or written form, but not both at the same time. Gives more credence to using image-driven presentations, with diagrams and visual representations of the words you're saying. Here's a quote:

"The use of the PowerPoint presentation has been a disaster," Professor Sweller said. "It should be ditched."

"It is effective to speak to a diagram, because it presents information in a different form. But it is not effective to speak the same words that are written, because it is putting too much load on the mind & decreases your ability to understand what is being presented."