How Does a Teleprompter Work?
A teleprompter is used to display text in front of a video camera. It allows a person to look directly into the camera while still being able to read notes or a script.
Teleprompters are often used in newsrooms and other professional video settings where a presenter must talk for long periods without looking away from the camera.
The teleprompter system has three main parts: glass, screen and camera.
Other People Are Reading
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Glass Reflection
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A teleprompter is essentially a one-way mirror, an effect created by using glass.
While glass is transparent in normal conditions, it becomes reflective when shrouded. This is why windows cause reflections when they are in shadow. In a teleprompter, a sheet of glass is placed at an angle. A black plastic or fabric shroud surrounds this glass pane, darkening the surface.
Because of the shroud, the glass appears to be a mirror when viewed by the person speaking.
Display and Camera
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A computer screen is used as the source of the words being projected. This can be either a traditional CRT TV screen or a smaller LCD display. In either case, the screen is placed at the top of the teleprompter, facing down.
Just like a standard computer monitor, the screen displays information from a computer. Because it is facing down, however, the image reflects off of the angled glass. The result is that the teleprompter words are reflected into the eyes of the speaker.
Finally, the video camera is placed behind the angled glass. There is no image or light on this side of the glass, so the camera has a clear view onto the stage. The teleprompter's words are invisible to the camera, which records normally. -
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References
- Photo Credit Benjamin Arie
