Presenter
A presenter ( Engl. To present = present) is a remote control for a PC during a lecture . It is mostly used to control a computer presentation shown with a video projector (e.g. created with Powerpoint or Impress ) and enables the presenter to move freely within the range of the presenter.
Interface to the PC
A presenter consists of the remote control element and a small receiver, which is usually connected to the computer via a USB port. The data is transmitted via radio (e.g. Bluetooth ) or infrared . Additional programs on the computer are usually not necessary. A presenter does not normally use a special communication protocol for the presentation program, but rather emulates simple keyboard inputs ( arrow keys , function key F5 etc.) and mouse commands (scroll wheel).
The range for radio-operated devices is usually given as 10 to 15 meters, an infrared connection can only be used on a clear line of sight to the PC.
The remote control element is powered by small batteries such as button cells or AAA cells .
Additional functions
In addition to the elements for controlling the presentation, the presenter often contains a laser pointer . A differentiator between the models offered is the color of the laser. Here, green is considered to be more visible than red.
Further additional functions can e.g. B. be a short-term alarm clock with vibration alarm or built-in flash memory in the receiver part, so that the presenter can also be used as a USB stick . There are also presenters with a mouse function, which can be used to move the mouse pointer on the screen and thus control programs. Wireless mice are sometimes also equipped with presenter functions.
methodology
The use of the presenter helps the presenter to move freely (instead of always standing at the PC), to approach the audience and to maintain contact with them, to watch the presentation together with them and to highlight things with the laser pointer in dialogue with the participants . This enables interactive learning and mitigates negative characteristics of frontal teaching . This works particularly well when presentation slides only consist of pictures and only serve as an emotional background or to illustrate the actual lecture.
Another side effect is that the presenter can "hold on" to the presenter, ie he is holding something in his hand. The possibility of being able to use their hands more or less sensibly in such a situation calms many people who otherwise tend to feel excited, nervous or stressed during presentations or when speaking in front of an audience.