Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:13 — 20.9MB)
Mikko Hyppönen is a worldwide expert in Internet Security who works as the Chief Research Officer at F-Secure. Thanks to his extraordinary skills and unique style, he successfully advocates the importance of privacy and other security topics to the whole world. He has delivered several TED and TEDx talks, some of them have been watched more than a million times.
His lifetime best opener
He started his latest TEDx Talk The Internet is on Fire (December 2014) with a story. During the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, Walter Bailey, a young waiter, was the only person who took action to try to save lives. This was a metaphor for today’s Internet, where everybody knows about surveillance but very few people are taking action.
The most important elements in a technical presentation
- You have to be able to simplify. Use stories and metaphors.
- You have to be as concrete as possible, don’t speak in abstract. Use screenshots, videos.
How to coordinate all sections of a technical talk
“When you do demos, you have to surrender to the demo gods.” It’s easy to go wrong with live demos. Mikko schedules a warmup talk (a final rehearsal) for the most important talks. Rehearsing is the key to success. Do spice up your talks with videos, props, demos, in addition to slides. In his very first TED talk he used an overhead projector as a prop.
Recommended tools for technical demos and presentations
Practical tool for demos: ZoomIt
YouTube downloader: youtube-dl
Favorite quotation
“The biggest lie on the Internet is “I have read and I agree to the terms and conditions.” – Terms of Service; Didn’t Read Project
Recommended books
The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley
Puhevalta (in Finnish) by Juhana Torkki
Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds
Routine to Shine
When you commute to work, don’t waste your time listening to music. You can use your time listening to things that help you with your life, your career. Listen to podcasts about technical topics, public speaking, news, jokes, etc.
Links
P.S. If you liked this episode, you might enjoy subscribing to our mailing list. Also, I’d appreciate if you write a review in iTunes or Stitcher. Your reviews will encourage me and will help other people to find the podcast. Thank you!
[…] Related: Public presentations about technical topics […]