Laser Pointer Politeness

Many people use a pointer in presentations, either to change slides (which is okay) or to point at the slides with the laser (which is not okay). Being able to change slides without being close to the computer or mouse allows the presenter to move around the room – the presenter is freer to interact with the audience. But the laser pointer, when used the way most people use it, can be extremely distracting and irritate the audience.

Here are some tips:

• Don’t use the laser unless you absolutely have to – Well designed slides combined with a well organized commentary should mean it is unnecessary to use a laser to point.
• Never underline text and read it to the audience at the same time – The audience will feel like their elementary school teacher is reading to them. This is very rude.
• Put the pointer in your weak hand (the hand you don’t write with or gesture with the least) – This will be the least distracting to the audience.
• Don’t point to change slides – A pointer does not work like your TV remote. It uses a radio transmitter/receiver, rather than an infrared transmitter/receiver. This means that you don’t need to point it at anything in order to change the slide