Preparing Outstanding Presentations, Part 4 -- The Body: Keep it simple, varied and concrete. (See also Sept 23 meeting notice)
Yet Another Nano Review -- Want to know more about Nanotechology? Ed Regis' book might be just the ticket.
Inside IEEE -- New products and services, Opportunities to work with local schools (GLOBE and Dallas BEST)
Section Activities -- USAB award Bob Krause, Students cycle for MS, Opportunities at Reltec, Anniversaries, Brainbuster
Cheryl Reimold, IEEE Professional Communications Society, reprinted from PCS Newsletter
Note: Sept. 23 meeting will feature Ms. Reimold and her secrets for Outstanding Presentations
Every presentation must have an introduction, a body, and a summary. Last time I discussed the introduction, which should follow the RAMP (rapport, attention, main message, plan) structure. If you accepted my advice, then your introduction contains a) your message and b) your key points (mentioned as part of your plan). Your job in the body, then, issimply to spell out your key points, in the same order as in the introduction.
As I discussed in part 1, the structure of your presentation must be extremely simple and transparent to everyone. This is essential because your listeners are easily confused. For the body, the best scheme is the following linear organization:
The only possible addition is a restatement of your main message, if you think it might not have sunk in during the introduction.
Most presentations are unbearably monotonous in content: They consist of some general statements followed by almost equally general subpoints, all presented with the aid of interminable bullet charts. The predictable result is a general sleepfest. To avoid this, you must build in variation and concrete examples.
As we saw in part 1, during the body the audience's natural attention is at its lowest. Therefore, your main job during this section is to make sleep as uncomfortable as possible. But don't expect continuous total attention - it's just not realistic. In most cases, you'll have to be content to "bump them to attention" every minute or so.
Now, the way to jolt people awake is through change. It's a simple psychological - and physiological - fact. As long as things stay the same, our body tells us that it's safe to sleep. So, to keep people alert, unsettle them with change. Here are three simple ways to do that:
Most presenters overuse abstract statements out of laziness: It's hard work to come up with good examples for your points. But there is another - often subconscious - reason: It's hard to follow abstract ideas - which make s them difficult to falsify! In other words, when you give a concrete example of what you're talking about, people can find the weak spots in your theory immediately! So, we sometimes stay with generalities just to be safe.
However, I've never seen this trick succeed. Your listeners know exactly what you're trying to do - and they simply won't believe you until you give them a good example. For instance, in my own communication-skills workshops, I have found that people just pay much more attention when I mention some real examples of managers or employees who did something poorly or well. It's amazing how people immediately start nodding and raising hands to contribute their own examples.
So, don't let fear or laziness stop you from using strong examples. It's one of the best ways to keep the audience alert and on your side.
by E. L. Safford, Program Chairman, Fort Worth Section
What is nanotechnology and why should I be interested in it? Is it a very important approach to product development ... or is it just "technological speculation?" Nano: the emerging science of nanotechnology: remaking the world - molecule by molecule (author Ed Regis, publisher Little, Brown and Company).is available to help answer this question. It is well-researched and well-crafted. But whether or not you like the book may depend more upon whether you like Ed Regis' style of writing than any fault with the data you find there.
Recommended reading. Slightly reminiscent of Bell's Men of Mathematics, Nano is a good place to start the search for an understanding of the term "nanotechnology."
What the book is not: It is not a textbook, scientific treatise, study guide, how-to book, or compilation of results for researchers in the field. It contains virtually no mathematical formulas, and utilizes almost no discipline-specific technical jargon. It is not "hard science," although it touches upon some very hard scientific theories. It is not just a biography. It is not science-fiction.
What the book is: Science history as it relates to the field of nanotechnology. A collection of interesting anecdotes that are fun, informative, and easy to read. A framework within which even the non-scientist can understand and experience some of the excitement and frustration of those whose work has contributed to the advancement of our ability to control and utilize events which take place at the scale of atoms and molecules.
In the prologue, the reader is given a context within which to explore the question "How important is nanotechnology?" And, the first few chapters help him to understand some of the problems of working with atoms and molecules and introduce two interesting people who have had major roles in the advance of nanotechnology ... Drexler and Feynman.
In the best tradition of good literature, Regis then brings these folks to life for us through a series of anecdotes. I found these so amusing that I memorized certain incidents to pass along to science-minded students and friends. Those who enjoyed Regis' Who Got Einstein's Office?, a series of profiles of members of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, will thoroughly enjoy this part of the book.
In the chapters that follow, the book covers successes and failures, problems and possibilities, agreements and differences of opinion among researchers, and lots of "little known facts" relevant to the field. The reader will begin to understand the controversy surrounding nanotechnology today.
For me, this book did not end with the final chapter (which presents a "grand challenge" I will not spoil for you) ... but with the appendix of selected sources, many of which are quite excellent and interesting in themselves.
Review comments are welcome. Please email them to e.safford@ieee.org.
Note: this is another in a series of member submitted articles. Awards will be given to the author of the best article. Contact the Editor for details.
IEEE Press has released its first series of electronic books designed as training tools for data communications professionals, called IEEE Press Quick Courses: Electronic Guides to Data Communications. All of the "IEEE Press Quick Courses" include a printed manual and two 3.5 Windows-compatible disks. Member prices are US $99.95. Orders can be placed through IEEE Customer Service.
The IEEE History Center has collected nearly 260 interviews with distinguished electrical engineers, computer scientists, and managers in the electrical, electronics, and computer fields from around the world, and has been able to place some of them on the Internet. Check the Web site at http://www.ieee.org/history_center.
The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, defines itself as "a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment." In 1995, the IEEE Board of Directors passed a resolution endorsing the program - the first technical/ professional organization to do so. Some suggestions for participation:
For information check out the home page at http://www.globe.gov. For volunteers interested in bringing GLOBE to their local schools, contact Cecelia Jankowski or Dan Benigni at 908-562-5504 for information.
Dallas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) is a team-based engineering competition that is targeted at high school level students. Each team is given an identical "kit of parts" (box of junk) and a set of game instructions, with the challenge to design and construct a radio controlled device that plays the game in competition with other teams on the playing field.
The "BEST" program was developed by Texas Instruments employees at Sherman.and is being introduced to Dallas for the first time in 1996. Twenty-four high schools have been recruited to participate.
TI provides the organizational structure, the radio controls and parts kits, the awards, funding, and "technical" coaches for each team. Each participating school is expected to furnish a team of motivated students, several team coaches (parents and/or teachers), a facility for team meetings and device construction, and transportation to the event site. For additional information, contact Bob Steffen at 214-956-6712.
At the PACE Conference in Phoenix on September 1, IEEE-USA presented Bob Krause with the Regional Professional Leadership Award for Region 5 for his "exemplary leadership at the local level in organizing and leading the Fort Worth Constultants' Network; and his continued involvement with the IEEE-USA AICN Corrdinating Committee." Congratulations, Bob - it is well-deserved!
The IEEE student branch at the University of Texas at Arlington has taken up a charitable cause.... the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. Mark Fischer, an electrical engineering junior and vice president the chapter, has formed a bicycle team that is entering the "Bike to the Brazos IV," a 150 mile bicycle tour beginning September 21 to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The team, 1/2MV2, has set its course to raise money through individual and corporate sponsorship. It is comprised of 5 members, all of which are UTA students: Mark Fischer, James Pellinghelli, Jane Hughes, Alex Chui and Scott Taylor.
Anyone wishing additional information or the opportunity to contribute can contact the team at: MLF4413@utarlg.uta.edu or call the Student Branch office, 817-794-5663.
Recognizing our Section members for their long-time committment to the profession on the anniversary of their joining IEEE.
35 yrs Morris R. Reason, Member
20 yrs Margaret H. Lewis, Member
Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949.
I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year.
The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957.
But what ... is it good for?
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.
Reltec is currently hiring software engineers with experience in UNIX, real time embedded operating systems (Psos, Vrtx) and C/C++. They will provide telecommunications training. Also seeking hardware engineers with experience in XILINX, FPGAs Digital and system level design. Contact Michael Wise at 817-540-9703.
A timely question....
At a political convention there are 100 politicians. Each one is either crooked or honest. At least one is honest. Given any two of the politicians, at least one is crooked. How many are honest and how many are crooked?
Answer to last month's Brainbuster:
How many different squares are on a checkerboard?
Size of sq. No. of sq.
1x1 64
2x2 49
3x3 36
4x4 25
5x5 16
6x6 9
7x7 4
8x8 1
Total 204