Information design expert Edward Tufte has long railed against PowerPoint and its mind-numbing cognitive style, and the chartjunk – bright, happy graphics with little informational content – that almost always accompany a presentation.
Chartjunk is a clear sign of statistical stupidity. Poking a finger into the eye of thought, these data graphics would turn into a nasty travesty if used for a serious purpose, such as helping cancer patients assess their survival chances.
So would waging war be considered a “serious purpose”?
New York Times: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint
Apparently the Pentagon didn’t get the memo on chart junk. Good times!
Further reading: PowerPoint Does Rocket Science—and Better Techniques for Technical Reports