TechnoLawyer's LitigationWorld newsletter just published an excellent set of 9 different perspectives on trial presentation apps and software. Authors (limited to 175 words) include Ken Broda-Bahm, Ted Brooks (hey, that's me!), Russell Cardon, Mitch Jackson, Karen Koehler, Ian O'Flaherty, Timothy Piganelli, Jeff Richardson, and Thomas Vidal. If you're a subscriber, I welcome your comments and feedback here - from YOUR perspective. If you didn't receive it, I would be happy to forward the entire LitigationWorld email newsletter to you - just PM or email me your email address and I'll send it. My email is tbrooks@litigationtech.com. Once you've had a chance to read it, add your thoughts.
If you haven't already subscribed, you should - here is the URL: http://blog.technolawyer.com/2017/03/battle-trial-presentation-apps.html
For a preview, here's my part:
Ted Brooks, All of the Above: Use Each for Different Purposes
The key is knowing which tool is best for the job — regardless of the "hero" tales you might read.
An iPad is a great way to handle a modest amount of data, and I would not limit it to TrialPad. TrialDirector offers a free iPad app that will handle many of the basic trial presentation features. The problems I run into most often are either having too much stuff for the iPad to manage, or assuming the courtroom is going to be compatible with your iPad.
PowerPoint and Keynote are great, but unlike trial presentation software, they are linear by nature — slide 7 follows slide 6. This makes it cumbersome to randomly jump from one exhibit to another. I use these for Openings and Closings, since they are "scripted," and not as likely to need last-minute changes.
TrialDirector and other computer/laptop software is what the pros are using every day in trials across the nation. When it comes to trial presentation, this is the best and most capable suite of tools available for the job.
Ted Brooks is an award-winning Trial Presentation Consultant and blogger at Court Technology and Trial Presentation.