Adding appropriate visual aids to technical verbalizations typically increases the listeners' retention severalfold. In preparing visual aids, highlight just the key information, show relationships, avoid clutter, and aim for “artist's rough” rather than art quality. Characteristics of several ways of presenting data visually are discussed. For effective meetings, presenters should also provide background and orientation to give participants a common starting point and then should not present more information than the particular audience needs to know.

Visual aids are carrier devices for presenting ideas. They should incorporate the essence of the speaker's thinking-at the planned rate of a single idea each. Principles of accomplishing visual communication are described with emphasis on techniques that involve the speaker: blackboard, flannelboard, easel pad, flip-chart, and transparency and slide projection. Guides for equipment placement and viewing distances are included.