All of us software types know that we should separate presentation from the underlying business logic. Still, most presentations we see in corporate settings--whether given by a suit or a techie--neglect this fundamental lesson of software design.

I've talked before about the way I recently started preparing my talks, writing a handout in essay form to ensure that I've got the big picture in check (apparently I haven't blogged about it, though, because I couldn't find anything on it with a quick search). I also managed to infect Vasco, I've heard.

The point I'm getting at is that I want my presentation to be more of an immersive experience rather than a competition of can-you-read-the-slide-faster-than-I-talk-it-through between the presenter and the audience. Thus, I write the handout with all the dirty details separate from the actual slides which are targeted at supporting the presentation, not being the presentation.

Witness slideuments.

The presentations we refer to as "Death by PowerPoint" are slideuments, monsters that try to simultaneously be a slideshow and a document. And we all know them by the winching pain we feel in our bottocks when we see one, bringing back memories from bad chairs and even worse presentations in packed conference halls full of co-victims.

It's not difficult to let go of your old ways of creating digital Frankensteins. It really isn't. All you need to do is to accept that there might be another way. Start respecting your audience and the time they're sacrificing in order to sit through your talk. That's all. The rest falls into place almost by itself with a little practice, trial and error.