Yesterday, at a lecture on the "Presentation of Data and Information", by Yale analytical designer Edward Tufte, an hour was spent talking about how Microsoft Powerpoint killed the presentation of the truth and the truthful display of evidence in regards to space shuttle Columbia's disaster. A group of Boeing engineers were asked to analyze the risk potential of the piece of foam insulation that impacted the Columbia's wing upon takeoff (this was while the crew was up in space carrying out their mission). The slides expressed "significant" danger, but in the way the information laid out in a Powerpoint's hierarchal bullets format, the magnitude of risk was not communicated effectively.
In an essay: "Powerpoint Does Rocket Science–and Better Techniques for Technical Reports", Tufte goes into detail why "significant" information should be presented significantly.
Tufte is a NASA advisor on the presentation of analytical information. The design and presentation of information should reflect our cognitive processes and not be limited by the templates and macros of applications.
[C.O.D. = cause of death]
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