The ultimate guide to teleprompters: from traditional setups to smart glasses.

Last updated: November 2025 — This guide has been updated with the latest product information.

What is a teleprompter.

Public speaking or presenting on camera can be a challenge. You have a message to deliver, but the fear of forgetting your talking points can be real. This is where teleprompters come in handy. But what is a teleprompter? At its core, a teleprompter (often called an "autocue" in some parts of the world) is a display device that shows a speaker the text of their speech or script. This allows them to read word-for-word while maintaining eye contact with the audience or camera. To define a teleprompter, it's a tool for confident, natural-sounding delivery.

Who uses a teleprompter? News anchors, TV hosts, politicians, and content creators all rely on it to deliver scripted content smoothly. While a teleprompter is used for many scenarios, the reason is the same—to help the speaker connect with their audience without the crutch of visible notes or the strain of memorization.

The history of the device is also of interest. The answer to the question of who invented teleprompter technology takes us back to the 1950s. Hubert Schlafly, Fred Barton, Jr., and Irving Berlin Kahn are credited with developing the first TelePrompTer for television performers. These were initially mechanical devices, often paper scrolls operated by a technician. Obviously, the technology has evolved considerably, leading to modern solutions.

How teleprompters work.

A traditional teleprompter setup is a clever use of physics. It involves a monitor placed horizontally below a professional video camera lens. This monitor displays the script. Above the monitor, at a 45-degree angle, is a special piece of glass called a beamsplitter. This is the key to how teleprompters work.

This beamsplitter glass is partially reflective on the side facing the speaker, so it reflects the text from the monitor upwards, making it visible. It's transparent from the camera's side, allowing the camera to shoot through it without capturing the text. This answers the common question of what a teleprompter is and how it works in a traditional sense. The speaker looks directly towards the camera lens and sees the script reflected on the glass.

This setup influences what a teleprompter looks like from the speaker's and audience's perspectives. The speaker sees text seemingly floating in front of the camera lens. The audience or camera sees the speaker looking directly at them. The glass often appears as just a tinted pane, barely noticeable at all. Can the audience see the teleprompter text? No, because of this one-way mirror effect.

Knowing where a teleprompter is located or where to place a teleprompter typically depends on its type. Usually, it's positioned directly in front of the camera lens or flanking a podium.

Teleprompter types and their applications.

Traditional teleprompters come in a few main types, each suited for different situations.

• Camera-mounted teleprompters. This is the most common type. The prompter reader is attached directly to the video camera, with the monitor and beamsplitter glass housed in a unit around the lens. These are staples in television studios and for professional video production.
• Presidential/podium teleprompters. A politician giving a speech with two glass panels on either side of the lectern is using presidential teleprompters, also known as a stage teleprompter. These are standalone units. The text is reflected onto large glass panes from monitors hidden in the base or floor, allowing speakers to look left and right to address a wider audience.
• Floor/stand teleprompters. These are similar to presidential prompters but often more versatile when it comes to placement. They can be placed on the floor, angled up, or on stands. Musicians often use these as lyric teleprompter setups during concerts. The downside is that they can sometimes draw the speaker's gaze downwards.
• Mobile/App-based setups (with traditional rigs). With the rise of smartphones and tablets, many apps allow these devices to function as the screen for a teleprompter. These are often paired with smaller, more affordable mirror rigs. While convenient, these rigs still depend on separate pieces of hardware, unlike fully integrated solutions.

Pros and cons of traditional teleprompting.

Using a traditional teleprompter has its benefits. As an established technology, it helps speakers deliver lengthy or complex information accurately. Knowing your lines are there can reduce anxiety, allowing for a more confident delivery.

However, there are challenges. A common complaint is the "teleprompter stare." Because the speaker is reading from a fixed point, their eye movement can sometimes look unnatural. Mastering how to read from a teleprompter without looking like you're reading requires a good amount of teleprompter practice.

Here are some common challenges:

• Bulkiness and setup. Professional teleprompter rigs can be large, heavy, and take time to set up correctly. This is not ideal for a solo creator or someone who needs to move around.
• Restricted movement. You are tied to the spot where the teleprompter is. This can make presentations feel less dynamic.
• Visibility of equipment. While the audience cannot see the text, the physical hardware of a camera-mounted or presidential teleprompter can be visually distracting.
• Cost. High-quality traditional setups can be a significant investment.
• Learning curve. It takes practice to get the pacing right, make your delivery sound conversational, and avoid reading monotonously.

These limitations suggest a need for a more efficient method.

The paradigm shift: introducing teleprompter smart glasses.

After wrestling with the downsides of traditional teleprompters, a more integrated, less obtrusive solution was needed. Enter the modern teleprompter: smart glasses like Even G2.

So, what are teleprompter smart glasses? They are a pair of eyeglasses with the capability to display your script directly in your line of sight. No external monitors, no bulky reflective glass, and no being stuck in one spot. This is a fundamental change in how a teleprompter works.

How teleprompter smart glasses work differently.

Instead of reflecting text from an external screen, smart glasses use micro-display technology to project the script onto a small, transparent lens or prism within the glasses themselves. The text appears to float in front of you, visible only to you, directly in your natural field of vision.

The experience feels less like reading and more like the words are appearing as needed. This direct in-eye display, powered by features like Even G2 Teleprompt, means your eye movements are more natural. You look through the text at your audience or camera, which helps maintain a genuine connection.

Traditional teleprompters vs. teleprompter smart glasses.

When you put traditional teleprompters up against teleprompter smart glasses, the advantages of the advanced tech become clear.

This table highlights why smart glasses are a step forward. They are fundamentally better for most modern communication needs.

Choosing the right teleprompting solution for you.

So, with all this information, how do you pick the right teleprompter?

Traditional teleprompters might still have a place in specific, large-scale broadcast studios where multiple cameras and complex setups are the norm.

However, for the vast majority of users today, teleprompter smart glasses like Even G2 offer a compelling, if not complete, package. Consider if you fall into these categories:

• Public speakers & presenters. Need to command a stage or meeting room with a dynamic presence? Smart glasses are for you.
• Educators & trainers. Want to engage your students or trainees without being stuck behind a desk? Smart glasses grant that freedom.
• Video content creators (YouTubers, vloggers). Need to produce high-quality, engaging content efficiently, even on the go? Smart glasses are a perfect fit.
• Corporate professionals. Delivering important presentations or leading virtual meetings? Smart glasses ensure you look polished and confident.

When making your decision, think about the cost of teleprompters, how often you'll use the teleprompter, the environments you'll be in, and how important natural, direct eye contact is for your message. The investment in smart glasses often pays off in time saved, reduced stress, and improved communication quality. In fact, our internal tests showed a significant reduction in recording time for scripted videos with smart glasses, as the delivery was more natural from the first take.

Conclusion: a new era of confident communication.

The journey of the teleprompter is a story of innovation driven by a simple need: to communicate clearly and connect authentically. From bulky paper scrolls to today's intelligent eyewear, the goal has always been to make the technology serve the speaker.

Teleprompter smart glasses represent the current pinnacle of this evolution. They offer a way to deliver scripted content with a level of naturalness, discretion, and freedom that was previously unattainable. If you're ready to stop worrying about forgetting your lines and start focusing on genuinely engaging your audience, it's time to consider what this modern teleprompter can do for you.

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