Okay, so PowerPoint presentations as we know them "suck rotten eggs" (to quote Seth Godin in his e-book Really Bad PowerPoint (and How to Avoid It)).
For those who need cognitive science research to explain why typical slides filled with bullet lists, auto-generated charts and graphs displaying minimal data, and colorful backgrounds and corporate "branding" borders, visit Cliff Atkinson's Sociable Media site. You'll find a section explaining why these typical PowerPoint practices are "toxic" to effective communication.
You'll also find sections on "antidotes" for organizations and individuals. (Some of the worst PowerPoint offenses are imposed on presenters by their own organizations' rules dictating layouts in a wrongheaded effort at branding - as if the audience will forget the name of their own company or a major supplier in their profession, unless it appears on every slide!)
The best part is Cliff's extensive list of articles and interviews. An excellent place to start is Five Ways to Reduce PowerPoint Overload, co-authored by Cliff and educational psychologist Richard Mayer.
Exploring Cliff's site also led me to another great resource: Tony Ramos' blog, Tony's PowerPoint Weblog.
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