Many in the business and education field have found that the use of computers and the various tools on them is a great way to give a compelling presentation.  One can use photos, videos, PowerPoint presentations, websites, and other documents to help get the point across.

While this is an effective way to give a presentation or lecture, there are times when it is important to stand in front of the crowd, staying mobile and truly engaging the viewers.  The problem is this: how does one accomplish this if they also have to be at the computer running the visual show.

The solution: using a portable media player to have a compelling and interactive experience for the viewers.

With innovative technologies such as the IOGEAR Portable Media Player, it is possible for a presenter to have complete control over the presentation while still interacting with the crowd.  Since it has a 120 GB hard drive and has 720p HD up scaling capability that allows it to play your standard definition content at up to 720p HD, you can fit your entire presentation and all of the media associated with it in one small box.

Perhaps best of all, it has a small remote control.  This allows a presenter to stand by the screen and point to important parts, to walk on stage and truly engage the audience, or even walk amongst the crowd for dramatic effect.  Having the remote gives the presenter control.  They can adjust the pace of the presentation as they go.

Having a lecture or presentation that is produced and saved keeps it fluid.  Versus the choppiness of a manual presentation, putting together a strong combination of videos, images, graphics, and flash files while narrating at the point of attention on stage can result in the most memorable presentations.  It is human nature to forget what we see on screen as well as what we hear during a presentation, but combining the two is the most compelling way to make an impact.

Here is a sample, generic 1 hour presentation format that I’ve used in the past with a portable media player:

1. Funny Video - 2 minutes
2. PowerPoint slides and narrative - 7 minutes
3. Slideshow - 4 minutes
4. PowerPoint slides and narrative - 12 minutes
5. Video on Topic - 5 minutes
6. Questions so far - 5 minutes of nice music, perhaps a slideshow (the “questions so far” part is one that many do not do, but it really makes a difference)
7. Graphics - 4 minutes
8. Interactive question for the audience/poll - 5 minutes
9. Video on Topic, but from a different angle - 3 minutes
10. PowerPoint slides and narrative - 3 minutes
11. Closing/Questions - 10 minutes

Using a portable media player to have your presentation in the queue and with controls at your fingertips, it is definitely possible to put together the most memorable presentation any in your audience has ever seen, regardless of the topic.  Notice that the longest block of time in this sample presentation is 12 minutes.  We are in a world where we are served our data in bits and pieces.  Long clusters of information make us lose interest.  Keep it fresh, interact, and make them remember you.

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