Don't forget the On-Line talk on tuesday

[Tina]

Topic: Jonathan Clark – Lithops, The Pebbles on the Bench
Time: Tuesday 19 October 2021 at 7:30pm (BST)
Meeting ID: 843 6149 9439
Passcode: bcss
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84361499439?p ... FlY3hxUT09
Jonathan Clark is a semi-retired university lecturer in Computer Science, with a first degree in Botany and an MSc in Plant Taxonomy, having had an interest in the genus Lithops from school days (so, for about 50 years). He has been a member of the BCSS (including the NCSS and CSSGB) ever since. He is a life member of the CSSA and the International Association of Plant Taxonomists (IAPT) and a pioneer in the use of artificial intelligence for classification and identification of higher plants – a major part of his PhD thesis on that subject involved the identification of Lithops species. He has numerous scientific papers on the subject, for example in Taxon and the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, of which he is a Fellow. Peter has given numerous BCSS Branch talks on various topics regarding cacti and other succulents. He has published papers on Lithops species and cultivars, morphology and identification in the Mesemb Study Group Bulletin and created a taxonomic key to help with identification, which appeared in Bradleya and in Steven Hammer’s book, Lithops - Treasures of the Veld.
In what promises to be a very informative talk, Jonathan will focus on the botanical and horticultural aspects of the genus, including some history. As such, it will feature plants in cultivation, how to keep them alive and growing properly (at least in the UK), how to grow them successfully from seed, and the interesting features to look out for that can help identify, at least to species level. The aim is for the talk to be suitable both for beginners and the already converted, with the hope that those who are just starting with these plants will be further enthused and encouraged to grow more of these amazing wonders of nature.

[Pattock]

Where speakers are putting together new talks specifically for online meetings, please can they be encouraged to steer clear of animated slide transitions?

Yes, please no transitions anymore!
When transitions are used I always see the slides corresponding to any spoken information only when the presenter has already moved over to the next slide. The slides I see always run behind. And the sound usually breaks up too. It has caused me to just quit on the presentation a few times in the last year.

Since I downloaded the Zoom app I have had no problems at all with any presentation.

[Acid John]

I have. The transitions and fancy pointers use up too much of some talkers bandwidth and it stutters and lags so even if yours is very good it can still 'act' up.

[Chris L]

I have. The transitions and fancy pointers use up too much of some talkers bandwidth and it stutters and lags so even if yours is very good it can still 'act' up.

Me too. The laptop is hard wired to the router too so it can't be a wifi problem at my end.

A "Norman Collier" audio can really spoil a presentation. The break up always seems to happen on the important words and all the erms come out clear as a bell.

The problem is that as far as the speaker is concerned the audio is just fine.....

[el48tel]

Does a presentation need "bells & whistles" to attract the attention of the audience? Surely, the focus should be on the content of the slides and the narrative. Whirling entrances and exits detract. As do copies of slides from 1960 not adjusted for the digital age; 10 nearly identical images of the same item; images of items occupying less than 1% of the viewing area; endless lists of complex statements (20 lines each of more than 20 words); presentations attempting to present far too much material in the time available rather than showing sympathy and selectivity for the subject ..... and my all time bête-noir .... the content of the slide read to us.

[Stuart]

A lot of Yorkshire Common Sense there. Could I propose Terry gives the vote of thanks for all the speakers at the next BCSS Convention.

Stuart

[el48tel]

A lot of Yorkshire Common Sense there. Could I propose Terry gives the vote of thanks for all the speakers at the next BCSS Convention.

Stuart

Stuart .... and I'll take that as a compliment.
I had a good tutor 30 years ago when I had to do training packages professionally. She was a hard task master. But she taught us well. Lessons hard taught. Well learned. And then ... living and learning from Yorkshire folk these past 6 years .....

[Pattock]

and my all time bête-noir .... the content of the slide read to us.

In the absence of proper subtitles, I would suggested that slides with content that is read out can be very helpful for accessibility for the hard of hearing and some others.

[el48tel]

and my all time bête-noir .... the content of the slide read to us.

In the absence of proper subtitles, I would suggested that slides with content that is read out can be very helpful for accessibility for the hard of hearing and some others.

Not disputing that. Different issue. There's a big difference between "audio described" and verbatim reading. If you look at AD programmes you will note the difference. And do you really mean ... visually disadvantaged rather than hearing disadvantaged?

[Pattock]

and my all time bête-noir .... the content of the slide read to us.

In the absence of proper subtitles, I would suggested that slides with content that is read out can be very helpful for accessibility for the hard of hearing and some others.

Not disputing that. Different issue. There's a big difference between "audio described" and verbatim reading. If you look at AD programmes you will note the difference. And do you really mean ... visually disadvantaged rather than hearing disadvantaged?

Verbatim reading is exactly what I would hope for when text is displayed, otherwise it gets confusing. Accurate subtitles or slidetitles accompanying a talk assure that the same experience is had by those with difficulties in vision and hearing as well as some of those with atypical neural or psychological functioning. I didn't think I had to spell that out