Mousetrap...!?!

Dear All,

Today let's listen to a story that will show us how indifference could be fatal...

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed this warning: "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap . ... . Alone. . ... That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- the sound Of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it. It was a venomous snake whose tail was caught in the trap. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. When she returned home she still had a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup. So the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient:

But his wife's sickness continued. Friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. But, alas, the farmer's wife did not get well... She died. So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them for the funeral luncheon.

And the mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and you think it doesn't concern you, remember --- When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

- MORAL -
EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY. OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO HOLD ONTO IN THIS WORLD
IS A F-R-I-E-N-D...!
Good Day and Keep in touch...!

Samples...!?!

Digitizing and Presentation of District Maps for an Institute

Samples...!?!

Graphic Design for Sago Staples

Samples...!?!

Presentation - V

As we have already learnt that Presentation is nothing but a more sophisticated form of Visual Communication, now let us try to understand the RULES for any visual communication. No matter what the tool or media you choose to use.

The purpose of a presentation is to present information — not devastate the audience with a demonstration of all the software tools and tricks. The software is merely a tool. Avoid the typical pitfalls of presentations with purpose, simplicity, and consistency.

Rule 1 – Form follows function

Resolve what your presentation is meant for – to entertain, to inform, to persuade, or to sell. Is a jocular or a more official approach most appropriate to the subject and your audience? The Color Schemes, Clipart, Graphics and styling should be relevant to the subject matter and emphasis the objective.

The length and breadth of the Presentation should be well thought of in context to the size, mentality, social status and cognition of the audience. You should not use elaborated philosophical anecdotes in a presentation for junior school children or cartoon clipart and bouncy fonts in an official presentation. In both these cases it should be the other way round.

Rule 2 – Stick to Simplicity

As with any design, cut the clutter. Two font families is a good rule of thumb. No more than one graphic image or chart per slide is another good rule (excluding any corporate logo or other recurring element in the design).

Presenter's University suggests the 666 rule for simplicity in design –
No more than 6 words per bullet
No more than 6 bullets per image and
No more than 6 TEXT slides in a row.

Rule 3 – Be Consistent

Use the same colors and fonts throughout. For this purpose define your theme at the outset. Designing the Master Slide or Template ensures the consistency and integrity along the length of the presentation. Templates go a long way toward helping to maintain consistency.

Although there are innumerable ready templates available within office library and on internet, it is always a good idea to design and create a bespoke template for each presentation for two reasons –
1. It will give a unique and fresh look and feel to the visual
2. It could be crafted perfectly to enhance the message and objective.

Play with the RULES and victory will no longer be distant…

Presentation - IV

If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now. ~ Woodrow Wilson

Presentation is nothing but the sophisticated, prepared and focused manifestation of communication. So before trying to learn the types of presentation, let us see what Communication means and what the types of Communication are.

Wikipedia offers the apt definition of communication –
Communication is a process of transferring information from one entity to another. Communication processes are sign-mediated interactions between at least two agents which share a repertoire of signs and semiotic rules. Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs". Although there is such a thing as one-way communication, communication can be perceived better as a two-way process in which there is an exchange and progression of thoughts, feelings or ideas (energy) towards a mutually accepted goal or direction (information)

Now for the types of communication, let us consider FOUR basic types –

1. Verbal Communication
Verbal communication includes sounds, words, language and speaking. Speaking is an effective way of communicating and is again classified into two types viz. interpersonal communication and public speaking – which is more relevant to presentation.
Good verbal communication is an inseparable part of business communication. Fluent verbal communication is essential to deal with people in business meetings. Also, in business presentation self-confidence plays a vital role which when clubbed with fluent communication skills can lead to success.
Public speaking is another verbal communication in which you have to address a group of people. Preparing for an effective speech before you start is important. There are many public speaking techniques and these techniques must be practiced for an effective speech.

2. Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication involves physical ways of communication, like, tone of the voice, touch, smell and body motion. Creative and aesthetic non-verbal communication includes singing, music, dancing and sculpturing. Symbols and sign language are also included in non-verbal communication. Body language is a non-verbal way of communication. Body posture and physical contact convey a lot of information. Body posture matters a lot when you are communicating verbally to someone. Folded arms and crossed legs are some of the signals conveyed by a body posture. Physical contact, like, shaking hands, pushing, patting and touching expresses the feeling of intimacy. Facial expressions, gestures and eye contact are all different ways of communication.

3. Written Communication
Written communication is writing the words which you want to communicate. Good written communication is essential for business purposes. The written communication can be edited and amended many times before it is communicated to the second party to whom the communication is intended. This is one of the main advantages of using writing as the major means of communication in business activity. Written communication is used not only in business but also for informal communication purposes.

4. Visual communication
The last type of communication is the visual communication. Visual communication is visual display of information, like, topography, photography, signs, symbols and designs. Of all the types this type of communication has a major part in any presentation. Apart from Presentation Television and video clips are the electronic forms of visual communication.

Today I will conclude on the note that Presentation is nothing but a developed and finished form of Visual Communication that can include Text, Tables, Graphs, Charts, Pictures, Graphics, Drawings, Designs, Signs, Symbols and even audio and video.

Presentation - III

SIX Steps to a Successful Presentation

1. Establish objectives for the presentation
What is the PURPOSE of your presentation?
What is your bottom line message?
What facts do you want them to learn and recall?
What value(s) do you want your group to leave with?
What action do you want them to take?

2. Analyze your audience
Use an interactive form to collect information about your audience
Why YOU are selected or elected for this presentation?
What would be the anticipated size of the audience?
What is the mutually beneficial factor – the common thread?
What tools and equipment are available to you?

3. Prepare a preliminary design or plan for the presentation
This is your presentation agenda with an outline including key messages and activities
Determine in advance how you will handle issues like unrelated questions, difficult or demanding attendees, problems with facility or equipment (to name a few)

4. Select resource material for the presentation
Put some time and effort to research and analyze the subject matter
Get some relevant and catching pictures and graphics for your visual
Consider adding a continuous running movie as Header or Footer
If it is for any Brand focus on the continuous visibility of the brand/logo
Use some statistics to reinforce your statements

5. Organize the material for an effective presentation
Arrange and rearrange the sequence until you find it most effective
Crosscheck for all the fonts, images and movie clips are in place and running ok
Make sure the flow of the materials matches your objectives for the presentation
Run the test show on different machines with different configurations and screens
Check to make sure the materials are consistently formatted and attributed

6. Practice the presentation in advance
Practice helps you to become familiar with your underlying message(s), values and your overall pacing and diction.
In spite of the glares, DO NOT hesitate to rehearse your presentation anywhere at anytime
Invite friends and buddies to act as your audience and encourage them to ask questions, however stupid it may seem
Never try to make the notes by heart, try to understand them instead. You can always improvise the concept with reference to the time, spot and current situation

Tomorrow we will proceed to the types of Presentation.