I don't often get email from the FBI. In fact, when email with their return address first appeared in my inbox, I examined the headers to make sure it was real and not some Internet scam.
SA (special agent, not secret agent) Jim Butler of the New Haven office was asking me to speak at a conference sponsored by the Connecticut High Tech Crime Investigator’s Association. There's not much I can say about high tech crime, but I was excited to be able to speak to a group primarily made of law enforcement officers.
For the longest time I've wanted to prepare a program on the Hurricane of '38 and it's implications in today's world - especially the ability to maintain civil order. I worry about the breakdown a storm like this would bring today.
Of course I had no presentation based on the events of '38, so I had to write one.
The real breakthrough came when my boss at the TV station and I were discussing PowerPoint presentations. He was mentioning how Steve Jobs of Apple was a master of PowerPoint... and then he said, "That's what you do every night. PowerPoint."
I'd never though of it that way, but it's true. My little weather presentation is nothing more than a computerized slide show!
I began to get material for my own PowerPoint¹. I wanted more than words on a screen. I started searching for video, animations and historical photos to make my point.
I knew I couldn't go directly into the nuts and bolts of a scary presentations, so I started light with video of Ann Nyberg, our 6-10-11 pm anchor, talking to me sternly! She caught on quickly to her role.
Though she was recorded, I timed a conversation with the image on the screen.
The audience laughed. I knew I was home free.
I think the presentation went very well. Of course, that's a self serving assessment - but I wouldn't say it if I really didn't felt that way. I have a feeling I'll present it again... in fact, I've already been asked!
¹ - The term PowerPoint has become generic. In fact, I did not use he word famous Microsoft Office Suit, instead relying on the absolutely free program "Impress," part of OpenOffice. It was extremely easy to learn and use and performed flawlessly.
2 things...
1. How is Impress? I've not used it but I had heard it's not as good as PP.
2. Steve Jobs uses Apple's Keynote not PowerPoint.
-A
Geoff, sounds like a great presentation...any chance we can see you do a similar story on channel 8?
Geoff did a fantastic job, as always!
As far as Impress vs PP, perhaps it is in the artist and not the tool, but the presentation went flawlessly.
(Had the techies at the conference known about Geoff's uber geek-ness and hacking abilities.. ie the $30 video camera, they would have been even MORE impressed!)
Thanks, Geoff, for the presentation. And my favorite course was also oceanography, but for some reason, I was a Math Major. Go figure.
Anyways, if you want a tour, give us a shout.
Thanks!
Ken (I work with Jim)