5 Presentation Predictions for 2017

Our technology is as ever-changing as the seasons. This rapid exploration and innovation has drastically transformed the presentation space, and it will only continue to do so in the coming year. Based on our industry expertise, trend monitoring, vast amounts of researching, and a consultation with our office crystal ball, we have developed a list of 5 presentation predictions that all presenters must brace themselves for in 2017:

1. Switch to mobile and cloud-based formats

 The average individual in the United States is glued to his or her phone for 5 hours a day. And in those 300 minutes, the average person visits Facebook, Chrome, and YouTube, according to a 2016 internet trends report by Mary Meeker. In 2017, it will be vital that your presentation is optimized for a variety of formats – versatile to meet the needs of the in-person attendee as well as the mobile viewer. With the existence of cloud-based applications like CustomShow, presenting and sharing your content becomes not only easy, but also streamlined and accessible to a wide array of audiences. That’s why we utilize CustomShow at Ethos3 in everywhere from our own sales pitch decks to presentations we create for clients. Salesforce and Amazon advocate the movement of data to their platforms, while companies big and small are making the transition to cloud-based systems. The increasing popularity of Google Slides, combined with the recent rise of Chromebook purchases and Android application integration is testament to the resourcefulness and expanding capabilities of the browser. So, it will be in the presenter’s best interest to meet the audience where they spend a large portion of their time.

2. Gamification of personal online presentation

It’s not enough to inform audiences. Today’s sensory-driven society prefers interacting with content – whether it’s during a presentation or on the web. Studies have shown that the activation of several senses enhances the learning process, making the use of gamification and interactive elements a win-win for all involved in the communication process. For example, this highly interactive resume puts your brain to work like a game would. As you scroll up and down and press buttons on your keyboard, you are subconsciously remembering the material the creator wanted you to leave his resume comprehending. In the next year, the gamification of personal and business brands will likely rise to meet the sensory demands of the millennial generation.

3. Demand for virtual reality experiences

We’ve got smartphone goggles from Samsung, including the Samsung Gear VR, run on Oculus – a huge step in the area of virtual reality – on the market. Filling the need for more immersive experiences via mobile, these products will become mainstream. The professional presenter will need to prepare for a world where virtual reality reigns. Perhaps it will require more intentional crafting of presentation narratives and assimilating 3D components in pioneering ways.

4. Disappearance of PowerPoint

Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and public speaker extraordinaire, has built a platform on his ability to present sans PowerPoint presentation – or any additional resource at all. Accruing over 1 million likes on Facebook, Gary not only has a strong social media following, but his published keynotes on YouTube have garnered a significant amount of attention – with his 3 most recent presentations averaging 73,047 views. If this presentation style trend continues into 2017 as fast and intense as Gary’s fans have accumulated, presenters might need to visualize their future presentations without visual aid.

5. Importance of self-awareness

In addition to the possibility of the gradual demise of PowerPoint and other presentation creation tools, 2017 will be the year of self-awareness for all presenters. Understanding your presentation style, which includes the content you choose to highlight, the storytelling tactics you employ, and the physical delivery of your material, will be pivotal to obtaining the results you desire. The continued growth of the Myers Briggs (80% of Fortune 100 companies swear by it), DiSC, and StrengthsFinder (every member of the Ethos3 team has discovered their strengths) in the workplace and the increased importance of personality testing in the workplace across all departments, industries, and professions are testament to the impact self-awareness will have on presentations in the next year.

Conclusion

Throughout 2017, we predict that the state of presentations will undergo a transition from static and linear formats to versatile, mobile, and cloud-based. In turn, gamification and virtual reality will trickle its way through the presentation atmosphere, while PowerPoint may leave the scene as comprehending personal strengths and weaknesses arrives. Presenters must work diligently to avoid stagnation – adapting to the technology of tomorrow. Because it is not enough to just know what we need to do.

5 Presentation Predictions for 2017

For more tips and tricks to keep up with changing presentation trends and technology, check out the following resources.

Keeping Your Presentation on Trend

How to Prepare Your Presentations for the Future of Mobile

Is a Huge Smartphone a Presenter’s New Preference

Presentation Trends for 2016


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