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Dinckel and Parnham (1985) say that 'The great danger (in using visual aids) is that presenters place the major
emphasis on visual aids and relegate themselves to the minor role of narrator or technician. You are central to the
presentation. The visual aid needs you, your interpretation, your explanation, your conviction and your justification.
Visual aids can make information more memorable and they help the speaker. However, they must literally support
what the speaker says and not simply replace the spoken information. It is also not enough to just read text from a
visual aid.
There are many advantages to the correct use of visual aids. They can show the information which is not easily
expressed in words or they can highlight the information. They cause the audience to employ another sense to receive
information, they bring variety and therefore increase the audience's attention. They save time and they clarify complex
information.
Adapted from Bernice Hurst, The Handbook of Communication Skills (London: Kogan Page, 1991)
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