As of 2013, most people have encountered or used PowerPoint in a business or academic setting. Anyone who has sat through a PowerPoint presentation can most likely recall an instance when it was ineffective, i.e. too little or too much information; watered-down content; reliance on poor visual aids. In contrast, one can usually recall a PowerPoint that was very useful for its brevity and direct take-away information. Edward R. Tufte’s “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint” sharply dissects the rhetorical format for its shortcomings.
Throughout 31 pages he is hypercritical of PowerPoint and its usefulness. Using the example of NASA  (10-11), he counts the writer’s use of the words “significant” and “significantly”, a total usage of five times. This was clearly a mistake on the writer’s part, no doubt. Using this and other facts, Tufte comes to the conclusion that NASA would be better off using other methods of disseminating information as “serious problems require a serious tool: written reports” (14).
While PowerPoint appears to be ill-suited for scientific information, I believe it does have a place in many business settings. Many people I know in various aspects of the business world use it effectively in their roles. They also have no choice but to use PowerPoint in many circumstances;  their livelihood depends upon it. When used effectively, PowerPoint can be a constructive tool to communicate a cohesive visual message. The presenter needs to use it to its potential—avoiding unnecessary tricks—while engaging the audience.
Clearly an intelligent man, Tufte’s argument can be overwhelming at times. I actually found it necessary to step away from this reading in order to regain momentum, it almost felt like arguing with a drunk about politics and/or religion. However scathing his message may be, his passion for visual rhetoric is quite compelling. I’m actually interested in reading his other works for their content and approach to analysis. This could parallel a love-hate relationship model for me! The link below is a helpful reminder of how a presenter can better use PowerPoint more effectively.

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