| Congratulations to Al Gore... but what might have been if he'd used Powerpoint, not Keynote? | | Date Created: 13 Oct, 2007, 03:48 PM |
|
Well, it's clear that Apple is pretty proud of its Board member, if you went to their webpage in the day(s) after the Nobel committee announced his joint winning of the Peace prize (above).
I am compelled to write this blog entry not just because in the next week or so as various media absorb this story then pontificate upon it ("Will Gore run for Democratic nominee for President? Will Hillary offer him a place in her West Wing if she is the successful nominee?") we will also hear legions of stories of how Gore used Powerpoint to deliver his "Inconvenient Truth" presentation, initially at Ted.com, then via the movie heard and seen around the world.
In Australia, which Gore has visited recently and where he was feted by many politicians other than our Prime Minister, who famously stated he didn't want to meet a failed presidential candidate nor did he want to see his movie, his Nobel prize has received much media coverage.
It is especially so because the same Prime Minister has announced, within 48 hours of the Nobel committee's announcement, that Australians will go to the polls to elect a new government in late November. And he is trailing in the polls badly, having dissed the climate change debate, not signed the Kyoto protocol and is looking increasingly out of touch even with those in their 50s, many of whom have become very wealthy during the past ten years of economic prosperity in this country.
(Their children however have delayed marriage and childbirth and are having a heck of a time finding affordable housing in the meantime, and are very worried about the world they will bring their children into, as a legacy of the Prime Minister's lack of ecological planning and foresight). |
And that is probably a blog entry in a far more politically oriented blog. For now, my question is the validity of Apple and its adherents (fanbois to some of you) enjoying the attention Gore is receiving, not just for being a mate of Apple and Steve Jobs, but because of his extensive use of Keynote for his presentations.
Gore joined the Apple Board in early 2003, soon after Keynote was released to an unsuspecting public, who had never really questioned how Steve Jobs weaved his magical keynotes each Macworld.
|
I first saw the prelude to An Inconvenient Truth via a TED internet cast, probably my first, in 2006. At TED, all presenters are expected to deliver their slide show (as most choose to use) in no more than 18 minutes.
I recognised Keynote immediately.
As it turns out, while some might believe Gore came to his epiphany about climate control after his unexpected loss in the 2000 Presidential race, he has in fact been giving slide shows on global warming (using 35mm slides) since 1988.
Following his appointment to the Apple Board in early 2003 after Keynote's release at Macworld 2003, he was taunted by wife Tipper (who called him "Mr. Information Superhighway") to get with the program and use a computer for his presentations.
As my mate Garr Reynolds tells it, Gore consulted the Duarte Consultancy in California to help develop the Keynote presentation, and they also assisted on its conversion into the movie we now know as An Inconvenient Truth. |
Now just imagine that in 2002 Gore had been very friendly with Bill Gates, who through his philanthropic trust, offered him many millions to pursue his passion, but on the condition he used Powerpoint in making the transition from 35mm slides.
So instead of following the cognitive style of Keynote - heavy on the graphics, no bullets, and low on the text (but what text there is, is beautifully rendered) - and slides that looked like this |
 |
| it instead would follow the cognitive style of Powerpoint and look like this: |
 |
Ugh!
You got to wonder if this was the sort of show Gore had taken around the country, and the world, would it have gotten nearly the same reception as his presentation has ultimately received? |
Head over to the TED site, which is really chuffed about Gore's Nobel win, and read the reactions to his original Keynote presentation in 2006. Here are a few samples.
Note how people are moved by what they saw and heard:
My wife and I came to TED uncertain about Al Gore and not thrilled to hear him. He seemed fake to us in the national political election he had gone through. His presentation profoundly changed our view of him even more than his message. We bought the messages. We did not buy the message presenter. At TED, he gave a sense of his humor, three-dimensionality, commitment to the cause, ability to criticize himself. We left with a positive attitude toward him and a commitment to help. -- David and Heidi Hoffman
At TED2006, Al Gore brought alive a vital and little-understood subject with humble, direct, passionate facts that were a call to action far beyond his previous resume as a politician -- bravo to a great humanist leader who made us address our history! -- Randy Antik
At 60 years old, there are rare seminal moments that cut across the arc of your life that make you stand up and cheer with joy of a 3-year-old, the passion of a 16-year-old and the wisdom of a 60-year-old -- Al Gore did that at TED! -- Sandra Kulli
Focused, impactful and powerful: his message changed how our family minimizes our impact on the earth in our everyday decisions, as well as how we can become an advocate for environmental issues as global citizens. -- Brett Bullington
Al Gore's talk on Global Warming was his most passionate, convincing talk that I had heard him deliver. It instantly heightened my awareness, understanding and sensitivity to the issue which has driven me to do the same for the people that I meet and do my part in reducing factors that affect Global Warming. -- Rakesh Sapra
Al Gore's presentation on Climate Collapse was the defining event of the 2006TED conference - it brought the audience together in community and gave perspective to all other conversations, focussing the sense of purpose we all felt when we left. -- Dorothy Lawson |
You can read more opinions at the TED site here.
|
Now as someone interested in the psychology of resilience, as opposed to depression, Gore's story holds much importance. While some, such as conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan, have suggested he had only himself to blame for losing the 2000 election, even he agrees that in the aftermath, Gore has re-invented himself, giving full reign to his passion for changing the world for the better.
For myself, Gore's use of Keynote was instrumental in his elevation in the public's estimation and his avoidance of the style of Powerpoint (as compared to the application itself, although one wonders whether he could have achieved the same output with PPT).
Next week, I'm giving a talk on better business presentations to a group of Melbourne business people (it's a business breakfast in Elwood) and you bet I'll be mentioning how Gore used visuals to make his case.
I'm expecting most in attendance will have never seen Keynote in action, and will be very used to seeing bullet points, lists of text, and inscrutable chart junk in their corporate lives.
No matter your politics, Gore's use of Keynote is one to look and learn from. So yes, Apple can be proud of his achievements on a variety of fronts. For me, it's a two edge sword. Privately, I can take some pride in my favourtte app's role in Gore's success. Publicly, I am going to have to endure more media references to Gore's "award winning Powerpoint presentation."
So, congrats Al Gore, Apple and Duarte - you've shown how great presentations can help change the world for the better. |
 |
|
|
|
