First, Lincoln obviously used an early version of the software, which worked to his advantage. With fewer features, there were no ill-chosen custom animations or transitions, the earlist bane of most presentations.

While the text only presentation could have been “punched up” with the importing of some maps, Matthew Brady daguerreotypes or Thomas Nast illustrations, he had little time to put it together while traveling by train to the battlefield. Regrettably, the railroad had yet to install any wi-fi capability for him to download, much less, incorporate pertinent web-based imagery.

Finally, Mr. Lincoln presumably used the presentation as cue cards for himself only and, as recorded by journalists at the time, he fleshed it out considerably from the podium.

I recently gave a PowerPoint presentation to a roomful of attorneys in Florida on the use of PowerPoint at trial and mediation. Before starting, I asked the room how many had used it before and had their opposing counsels used it in trials against them? By a show of hands, a third of the room responded affirmatively. Also, none of them had ever been aware of any criticism of PowerPoint. All of them admitted that they relied on the “overbearing” templates or had their presentation outsourced to someone who likely did the same. One attorney, after I walked through an example of a presentation used in an accumulated injury case, asked how much the presentation had cost because he had just shelled out $15,000 for a personal injury case. When he said the amount, the room started to murmur critically.

I can tell you that after showing several examples of PowerPoint presentations the “luddites” in the room were willing to pay someone to craft an opening remarks, or mediation presentation(most seemed to believe that they did not have anyone inhouse savvy enough to tackle the job). Those experienced liked the example of a multi slide timeline I showed them and its use of hyperlinking to the internet and other parts of the presentation.

The avoidance of text filled slides seemed intrinsically understood but there was a notable fear of getting in over their head by some of the attendees. Others wanted to see PowerPoint used in ways new to them, like hyperlinking. They appreciated the use of dissolves between images of pre and post xrays and other “neat” comparisons. Anything priced under $10k seemed to be swallowed as affordable or reasonable.

A came away with a half dozen solid leads for work and the impression that the use of the software’s methodical, linear style of storytelling appealed the audience regardless of the technology level of the attorney. Half of the leads were from first timers the others had some experience with it.