Visual Communication

Examples of Visual Communication in the following topics:

• Communicating Statistics

  • Visual tools can be an effective way of incorporating statistics in your persuasive speech.
  • As a result, consider using visual tools such as tables, graphs, and maps to make statistics more understandable for your audience.
  • These visuals are often easier to understand than raw data.
  • Visual representations of quantitative information such as this map, which illustrates the prevalence of self-reported obesity among U.S. adults by state and territory, can make data more understandable for your audience.

• Choosing the Right Visual Aid

  • Avoid passing hard copies of your visual aids around to the audience.
  • Visual Communication relies on vision, and is primarily presented or expressed with two dimensional images.
  • Although computer generated and projected visual—and presentation—aids are commonly used, it is still important to understand how to use them or any other type of visual aids in your presentation.
  • There are many different types of visual aids.
  • In order to do this, test out your visual aids in different environments.

• Channel

  • The channel is the method (auditory and visual) that is used to transmit the message to the receiver.
  • In a face-to-face, in-person speaking situation, the channel will be primarily audio using sound and visual using light waves; in a speaking situation with a remote audience via videoconferencing, the channel will be computer mediated audio and visual.
  • These cues are received by the listeners through the visual part of the channel: their sense of sight.
  • Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) is able to overcome physical and social limitations of other forms of communication, and therefore allow the interaction of people who are not physically sharing the same space.
  • Give examples of auditory and visual channels used in public speaking

• Utilizing Devices to Enhance Audience Understanding

  • Visual aids, microphones, video screens, and/or a podium can help enhance audience understanding.
  • Many people need the assistance of visual material to understand complicated topics.
  • Visual aids help the speaker reinforce the information provided in the speech to increase absorption and retention of the material.
  • Visual aids can include objects, models, handouts, graphs, charts, photos, and slide show presentations.
  • With visual aids, a speaker needs to make sure they adequately enhance the presentation without causing a distraction for the audience.

• Physical Objects and Animations

  • Physical and animate objects can help to integrate the verbal and visual elements of a presentation into one unified message.
  • In today's media-driven world, public speakers have a plethora of visual aids to choose from when augmenting their presentations.
  • From LCD projections to flip charts, visual aids help presenters inform and persuade audiences, as well as help them understand the presentation topic.
  • The use of objects as visual aids involves using actual objects as live demonstrations or props for the audience.
  • Choosing the appropriate visual aids depends on the speaker's preference, as well as the content and setting of the presentation.

• The Don'ts of Using Visual Aids

  • Some "don'ts" of visual aids include inconsistent themes, small fonts, too much information, and distracting noises and animation.
  • Visual aids can be effective at enhancing your presentation and helping the audience better understand the key points of your presentation.
  • However, if visual aids do not help your message or are too confusing, they may actually detract from the presentation and hinder understanding.
  • Some key "don'ts" of using visual aids include:
  • Additionally, try to keep the number of slides or visual aids in your presentation to a minimum.

• The Importance of Preparation

  • In preparing your visual aids, you should consider three important components:
  • Are your visual aids easy to understand and easy to read or view?
  • Do you know what is on your visual aids and can you present them effectively?
  • Are your visual aids easy to understand and easy to read or view?
  • Do you know what is on your visual aids and can you present them effectively?

• Visual Demonstrations

  • Before incorporating visual aids into speeches, the speaker should understand that if used incorrectly, the visual will not be an aid, but a distraction.
  • Planning ahead is important when using visual aids.
  • The purpose of the visual aid is to enhance the presentation.
  • It can also be a visual distraction if the table is not drawn evenly.
  • List the different ways visual aids add impact to a presentation

• The Do's of Using Visual Aids

  • Visual aids will also help to improve the attention span of audience members during the presentation.
  • An effective visual aid will include the following attributes:
  • Your visual aids should not detract from the content of your speech.
  • The decisions you make when you design your visual aids should be very deliberate.
  • If you add color to a visual aid, for example, use it for a clear purpose.

• Improve Listener Engagement, Comprehension, and Memory

  • For example, the details that you share about an organization's financial status will differ depending on whether your audience is a tax inspector, an external auditor, the community of beneficiaries or the new employees.
  • Visual aids help audience members follow the structure and flow of your presentation.
  • Use engaging anecdotes, quotes, and examples as a part of your visual aid.
  • Outlining these stories in your visual aids will help the audience remember and apply these stories.
  • The visual cue will more easily remind the audience of the concept than a simple explanation in words.