Summary

The article discusses the evolution of presentation software, emphasizing the superiority of Apple's Keynote over Microsoft's PowerPoint for creating engaging and stylish presentations.

Abstract

The article titled "Keynote Sets The Tone So That You Can Wow the Audience" delves into the history and impact of presentation software, from the early days of Aldus Persuasion to the dominance of Microsoft PowerPoint, which the author criticizes for promoting mediocrity. The introduction of Apple's Keynote in 2003 is hailed as a game-changer, offering a tool that prioritizes creativity and audience experience. The author, Jussi Luukkonen, advocates for Keynote's ability to set the tone of a presentation, allowing presenters to craft memorable experiences rather than relying on dull bullet points. The article also provides a YouTube link to a masterclass presentation by Steve Jobs, showcasing the effective use of Keynote, and concludes with a call to action for readers to improve their presentation skills using Keynote, with the support of tutorials and coaching sessions offered by the author.

Opinions

Aldus Persuasion was once a leading presentation software known for its stunning gradients and capabilities, but its innovation was stifled after Adobe's acquisition.
Microsoft PowerPoint is portrayed as a tool that perpetuates mediocrity due to its lack of style, taste, and a poor user interface, which is attributed to Microsoft's business practices.
Apple's Keynote is praised for its design philosophy that focuses on the presenter and audience, encouraging creativity and style in presentations.
The author believes that Keynote lives up to its name by allowing presenters to set the central theme and tone of their presentations, much like a keynote address or a musical key note.
Steve Jobs' use of Keynote is highlighted as an exemplary model of how to maximize the presentation experience

Keynote Sets The Tone So That You Can Wow the Audience

And why does PowerPoint suck?

Presentation software is a big business. So is public speaking. Both can be seen as tools for fools — or meaningful messages for deserving audiences.

Google, Microsoft and Apple have their own solutions, and several software houses are trying to get into the market with their software. There is a lot from which to choose. Or is there?

∘ Stone age of presentation software ∘ The birth of mediocrity ∘ The dawn of style ∘ Nomen est omen ∘ Watch how Steve Jobs used it and learn from the master. ∘ Don’t be tone-deaf — tune your presentations with Keynote

Stone age of presentation software

My first presentation software was Aldus Persuasion. It was, in its days, a brilliant way to create stunning slides. You read right, slides, those little film-printed things that always managed to get the wrong way round in the projector tray. Or, at the last moment, you dropped the slide tray, and dozens of slides were on the floor. Data projectors were still a rarity in those days, and each conference venue had slideshow machines. Those were the days.

However, Persuasion had a fantastic feature set, and its capability to create stunning gradients was mouthwatering. But then came the big bad wolf, Adobe and acquired (1994) this kind and lovely Little Red Raiding Hood, Aldus. It was a sad end.

And as always, Adobe killed the innovation. Officially Persuasion was put to death in 1997.

The birth of mediocrity

Microsoft, the company famous for its cruel and blood-sucking licencing business models and lack of taste, annexed PowerPoint in 1987. Originally PowerPoint was developed by Robert Gasking and Dennis Austin, but three months after its release, money talked, and Gates got what he wanted with $14 million.

Bill knew that to make mediocrity a standard, you need to sell presentation software to the masses with a total lack of style, taste and poor user interface.

I still remember the horror I felt when I got PowerPoint on my PC. I knew it would be for the presenter as the Lada to the car industry. It was — no other way to say it — shit.

The dawn of style

Finally, after a few painful years of waiting, Apple came to the game with Keynote in 2003. Steve Jobs, the God of keynotes, obviously wanted something to match his exceptionally brilliant presentations. I think he must have had some frustrating and disgusting moments with PowerPoint and decided that it was time for a fundamental tool and not some brain-dead zombie.

From the beginning, Keynote was designed for the presenter and the audience as an experience enabler. It encouraged creativity and style to wow the audience and not bombard them with dull lists of bullet points.

Apple has been cautious when they have slowly added new features to the elegant and unique software. It has kept its integrity and made the default tool for professional speakers.

In one of my articles, I wrote about making presentations soaring and less boring. Funnily enough, all those mentioned in it use Keynote.

Nomen est omen

The name is a sign like Roman playwright Plautus so insightfully said. Keynote means, according to the dictionary:

A prevailing tone or central theme: • (of a speech) setting out the central theme of a conference: he delivered the keynote address.

(In the music) the note on which a key is based.

When you use Keynote, it really can set the tone. You can create a symphonic or a heavy metal presentation with it. Depending on your preferences and those of the audience, Keynote can deliver.

Watch how Steve Jobs used it and learn from the master.

Observe how he is using visuals, transitions, effects and layouts. It is a 10 minutes masterclass of presentations and how to use Keynote to maximise the experience and not overload the audience with digital barbiturates.

Don’t be tone-deaf — tune your presentations with Keynote

Its user interface gives you the right tools to add visuals, effects and interactivity to the presentation.

When designing slides, the software needs to be almost transparent and invisible and let you create a smooth flow that can take your audience on the journey.

It’s about focusing on what is essential; building the message instead of overloading the slide with crap.

It requires skill, but the software helps you to acquire those skills. It gently allows you to create better presentations with more precise typography, brilliant layout and better colour handling.

Apple has also developed a set of fun and informative tutorials to learn the basics and go beyond.

If you want to deliver a speech and end it with a high note, Keynote is the tool.

I run coaching and training sessions for people who want to make the most of their Keynote and learn to become better public speakers. Book a meeting here with me to discuss how I can help you shine in front of your audience.

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