Death by PowerPoint: the slide that killed seven people
13 days ago
- #NASA
- #Communication
- #PowerPoint
- PowerPoint misuse can lead to miscommunication and tragic outcomes, as seen in the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster.
- NASA's Columbia mission ended in disaster due to a foam strike during launch, damaging a critical wing tile.
- Boeing engineers used a confusing PowerPoint slide to communicate risks, leading NASA to underestimate the danger.
- The slide's misleading title, excessive text, and poor hierarchy obscured critical information about the foam strike's severity.
- Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry, killing all seven crew members, due to the damaged wing tile.
- NASA's report criticized over-reliance on PowerPoint for technical communication, highlighting its role in the disaster.
- Edward Tufte's analysis revealed how poor slide design contributed to the failure to grasp the risks.
- PowerPoint is widely criticized for stifling critical thought; some leaders, like Jeff Bezos, have banned it from meetings.
- The tragedy underscores the importance of clear, concise communication in presentations to prevent misunderstandings.