Teleprompter

A teleprompter is a display device that prompts the person speaking with an electronic visual text of a speech or script. Using a teleprompter is similar to the practice of using cue cards. The screen is in front of the lens of the camera, and the words on the screen are reflected to the eyes of the speaker using a one-way mirror (Note that this is only true in principle - when the space behind the lens is covered in a shroud, an ordinary glass pane will work as a one way mirror). As the speaker does not need to look down to consult written notes, he or she appears to have memorized the speech or be speaking spontaneously, and he will look directly into the camera lens. Cue cards, on the other hand, will always be placed away from the lens axis, making the speaker look at a point beside the camera, which leaves a "distracted" impression.

History

The first "teleprompters" were simply mechanical devices located near the camera. The script was printed on a paper scroll, which was advanced as the performer read.

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As capitalized, TelePrompTer is the trade name used by the company which developed the electronic device. The TelePrompTer company was founded in the 1950s by Fred Barton, Hubert J. (Hub) Schlafly and Irving B. Khan. Barton was an actor who suggested the concept of the teleprompter as a means of assisting television performers who had to memorize large amounts of material in a short time.

Related Topics:
Trade name - Company - 1950s - Fred Barton - Hubert J. (Hub) Schlafly - Irving B. Khan - Actor - Concept - Television

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The First Personal Computer based Teleprompter, Compu=Prompt appeared in 1982. It was invented and marketed by Courtney M. Goodin & Laurence B. Abrams in Hollywood, California. This custom software and specially re-designed camera hardware ran on the ATARI 800 Personal Computer. Their company later became ProPrompt Inc., which is still providing teleprompting services some 23 years later. Other Paper-based Teleprompting Companies Q-TV and Telescript followed suit and developed their own software several years later when the Commodore 64 the IBM PC evolved into computers with enough graphics power to provide the smooth scrolling text.

Related Topics:
Compu=Prompt - Hollywood - California - ATARI 800 Personal Computer - Commodore 64 - IBM PC

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