# What IS that thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-thing/497804 "2009-05-27T16:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-thing/497804/1 "2009-05-27T16:24:56Z")
When Obama and Sotomayor were at the podium, a smoked-glass-lookin’ screen, about the size of a sheet of paper or so, was up at Obama height. When he backed away from the podium, it lowered to Mini-Me height. What is it? ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-thing/497804/2 "2009-05-27T16:28:15Z")
Sounds like the teleprompter widget used by many politicians (and news anchors although you can’t see theirs since the camera films right through it). It’s basically an angled sheet of glass that reflects the text of their speech so they can speak without notes in hand. There are generally two of them so they can turn their head from side to side. The text scrolls on a monitor down below, speed controlled by someone. There are some good photos here: > **[Teleprompter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleprompter)** > > A teleprompter, also known as an autocue, 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 using cue cards. The screen is in front of, and usually below, the lens of a professional video camera, and the words on the screen are reflected to the eyes of the presenter using a sheet of clear glass or other beam splitter, so that they are read by looking directly at the lens position, but are not imaged by th... ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-thing/497804/3 "2009-05-27T16:28:25Z")
[TelePrompter](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19663.html). ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-thing/497804/4 "2009-05-27T18:31:49Z")
Shutthefuckup. You can see the words on his side but not on the audience side? I’m impressed. I always thought it was a TV screen thingie on a table about 15 feet in front of him. Thanks!!! Technology…sheesh… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-thing/497804/5 "2009-05-27T18:37:42Z")
See also [Pepper’s Ghost](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepper's_ghost). (OK, not really the same thing; but related.) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-that-thing/497804/6 "2009-05-27T22:52:21Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > There are generally two of them so they can turn their head from side to side. I wonder if that’s why Obama always talks to his right or his left, but never down the middle.