> From the top of my head, there are at least three kinds of > presentations I see frequently at the IETFs: > > a) about 5 slides (or less) of background for the work, some major > points, and maybe what has changed, on the last slide soliciting for > input on certain specific topics, > > b) presentations where the document editor goes through all the open > > issues in the document (typically sent to the list beforehand, but no > comments there), trying to use face-to-face time for discussion and > gaining consensus on these items > > c) longer presentations which often result in focus getting lost. > > Do you see other kinds? Do you feel (at least) a) and b) are good use > of our time? I see a lot of those in category c), fewer in categories a) and b). I do feel that a) and b) are reasonable ways to use meeting time. > In any case, what I've seen in a dozen or two IETF presentations I > made during the last year or so that people don't usually jump up and > start discussing, unless you have a contentious topic or phrase the > questions really well (in a contentiuous manner)? Or maybe it's just > my bad presentations.. There's something about the medium. Not just the use of PPT, but the setting ... a room with theater seating and the projection screen the most prominent feature. There is always something on the screen even if the information content is low. Some low-level noise from air conditioning or whatever. It all seems to encourage people to sit down, shut up, and watch the screen rather than to engage in dialogue. When the speaker speaks for more than a few minutes without any interaction with other attendees, that reinforces the one-way nature of the meeting. The need for those "on the floor" to use a microphone (not just in large rooms and multicast rooms now, but in _every_ room) further discourages interaction. (aren't there microphones these days that can pick up what is being said without being held next to the speaker's mouth?) _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www1.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf