Response to Vic Marcus

I agree when you said that oral presentation take a fair amount of planning and that you should be very prepared before you give one. Knowing what you are going to say and when you are going to say it helps presentations go a little smoother. Also with websites I think usability is at the top of list as far as importance. If the viewer doesn't like what they see, most likely they won't be back. Like everything else we have learned, you need to understand your audience.

Chapter 17 & 18 - 11.14.08

Chapter 17 is all about listener-centered oral presentations. Like the book says, the most important idea presented in this chapter is that of knowing the goals of your presentation. Obviously you start there. PowerPoint has become unwritten standard for giving oral presentations. Having the visual aspect to back up your oral presentation is like putting a pretty bow on a present. Being able to tie these two aspects together seamlessly and effectively is the trick. After reading this chapter I think I will have a better handle on how to make presentation a nice little package. A few of the other points in the chapter should come without saying. Like don't be afraid of being interrupted and rehearse. I really love PowerPoint presentations because it will usually take eyes of me and in turn allows me to relax. Does anyone else feel this way?

Chapter 18 is centered around reader centered websites and web pages. Like everything else we have learned, it is very important to define your objectives at the onset of the project. Planning is huge when designing a website. You have to be very careful about how it is laid out and how it jumps off the screen. It needs to be organized and detailed without being overwhelming. I think websites are either hit or miss. When a person jumps onto a site they either leave in the first 30 seconds or stay, browse and come back. Being able to communicate the information visually is the trick. I can't stand websites that are hard to navigate or are to hard to sift through all the information. I don't think I am alone on this one.