The prompter (or telepromptor or teleprompter) is a device allowing a presenter television or a Orateur of reading a text ravelling on a screen placed in the axis of the Caméra which films it.

Appearance and development

The prompter made its appearance in the years 1970 with the Télévision, initially with the the United States then in France where the journalists Roger Gicquel and Yves Mourousi were among the first to use it during the Tv news.

Technical device

It is about a complete device made up of a Miroir without silvering (thus allowing to film through) placed in front of the objective of a camera. Is reflected in the ice a text ravelling on a Téléviseur placed at 90° compared to the angle of the objective; ice describing an angle of 45°, halfway between the screen and the objective. This installation makes it possible to the journalist to read his text while looking at the camera of face, impossible thing in the past: the journalist constantly having to read his text placed on the table and to fix the camera regularly, to give an impression of discussion. It is a person with share which with the load of the run of the text: the operator or the operator prompter. Via a Computer and a Software specific, the operator can make ravel the text more or less quickly, to make “pass to the trap door” sequences or launchings of reports which are given up, etc Plus seldom, the speaker manages itself the " défilement" of its text

Other uses

The prompter was recently democratized in the conferences, congress and great political meetings and trade-union. The installation differs somewhat from that used on television. They are two-way mirrors assembled on telescopic masts , reflecting the screens (where ravel the text) posed on the ground and placed per pair on both sides of the speaker. This last gives the impression to by heart know its speech, whereas actually it throws furtive glances on both sides of sound Pupitre, on the mirrors.

Nowadays, the prompter is used very frequently on television, so much so that it relegates sometimes the presenters to simple speakers. The programs the largest “consumers” of prompter are:

• entertainment, in order to ensure the transitions between the services from the various artists

Manufacturers/Providing

The Autocue manufacturer is the world leader of the sector. The majority of the groups and television channels are provided near him. Its Wincue software makes it possible to follow the complete construction of a emission, to generate the driver of the latter, to treat on a hierarchical basis the texts of the presenter, etc

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