Visual aids are props or displays used to aid ther audience in comprehending or following your speech. Part of the intent of using visual aids is to add another source of input for the listener. Now not only are they hearing your speech, they are also seeing it. Also, whenever you hold up something and say "look at this," the listener will automatically look, guaranteeing that you have his or her attention.
The following is a collection of advice on using visual aids gathered from experience, members and a supplement in the advanced manual: Entertaining Speeches. Special thanks to Doc Shanahan and Sharon Kjellquist (of the club forming at the Hartford Insurance Group).
For any visual aid:
Long lists are hard to comprehend.
Pictures are notes projected on a wall. Put up notes, not whole sentences. If a long list or lots of information needs to be presented then consider handing out copies to the audience. If you do hand out information to the audience: Do it before beginning to speak, tell the audinece it is coplete.
Don't just read your visual aid to the audience, they can do that themselves, expand on what you've written.