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Computer screen teleprompter

This is a simple 3D printed teleprompter that reflects part of your computer screen directly in front of your webcam

lex-kravitzLex Kravitz
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This 3D printed teleprompter allows you to maintain eye contact with your webcam while video chatting with a person on screen, or while reading text into the camera. It allows you to avoid the shifty glances downward at your screen to read your notes. It requires one 6"x4" mirror, and one 6" x 4" piece of clear plastic, which can be purchased online for < $2 each.



The teleprompter is a simple passive device that clips onto a monitor with a popup or clip on webcam.  The teleprompter reflects a 6x4" region of the screen directly in front of the webcam.  You can look into the camera to read text or make eye contact with a video conference.  It does not noticeable change the video quality recorded from the webcam.

The provided STL files were designed to fit my Dell OptiPlex 7760 All-In-One, but the editable TinkerCAD design is available so you can tweak it to better fit your monitor.

Computer_teleprompter_leftside.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 20.20 kB - 10/18/2020 at 21:35

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Computer_teleprompter_rightside.stl

Standard Tesselated Geometry - 15.12 kB - 10/18/2020 at 21:35

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  • 1
    Print the two 3D parts

    These parts were designed to fit my Dell 7760 All-In-One but you can modify the editable TinkerCAD design to make it fit snugly on your computer.

    Lay these parts out with the 4"x6" plexiglass and mirror you bought.  The mirror I bought had rounded sides, it doesn't matter if yours does or doesn't. Also I purchased PETG plexiglass but any clear material should work.

  • 2
    Snap teleprompter together
    Slide mirror into slots on the bottom and plexiglass into slots on the top
  • 3
    Hang on your computer in front of your webcam
    You can use free teleprompter software (Google it) to scroll your text in front of your webcam for reading while you record a video.

    Or use it during video conferencing to look directly into the camera and maintain eye contact with the person on the other end of the call!

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sciencedude1990 wrote 04/03/2021 at 03:12 • point

I wrote a completely free HTML/Javascript version of a teleprompter app, and included the source code for those interested in changing it...

https://hackaday.io/project/178618-entirely-html-simple-teleprompter

  Are you sure? yes | no

Lex Kravitz wrote 04/03/2021 at 21:09 • point

Cool thanks for the reference to your program!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Bianco wrote 10/24/2020 at 13:52 • point

That’s great!

I thought your project was a computer monitor for zoom meetings where you can look at your desktop, rather than an awkwardly positioned webcam, but I guess a “teleprompter” would be directed at “prompting” people to say something. I guess I’m trying to make a “holographic” monitor with a camera behind the desktop screen (mounted to a computer desk, not portable).

Do you think there’s a way to use an ultra-short-throw projector to project a desktop onto a high-angle reflective screen, or lens, so that the reflective screen won’t take up so much space in front of the viewer while the webcam is behind the screen (like in a typical teleprompter)?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Lex Kravitz wrote 10/25/2020 at 16:05 • point

That sounds like a great idea!  I wonder if making a monitor-sized version of this device with a bright monitor would accomplish what you want?  And then you'd mount the camera right in the center of the screen?  

This device reflects a small area (4"x6") of the monitor upwards in front of the webcam, you basically want to reflect the entire thing?  Like a Pepper's Ghost illusion for your monitor? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppers_ghost

  Are you sure? yes | no

Dan Maloney wrote 10/19/2020 at 21:08 • point

I've seen a lot of designs for teleprompters, but this one seems great. Although personally, I have a thing about anything being between my screen and my eyes -- if so much as a jumper wire from a breadboard visually overlaps my field of view I get uncomfortable. I feel like this would drive me nuts unless I devoted a dedicated monitor to it.

But that's just me, still a great design. Thanks for sharing, Lex!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Lex Kravitz wrote 10/22/2020 at 20:26 • point

Thanks Dan!  After a week of trying to use it on conference calls I can confirm that it takes some getting used to.  One issue is that the optical quality from the plexiglass and plastic mirror I used is passable but not great.  I bet this aspect could be improved a lot with higher quality optical parts.  I also found it awkward to use while screensharing in Zoom as the teleprompter covers the middle of the screen so I had to move the applications windows around it.  The place I think it works best is for reading teleprompter text into the camera when making a tutorial video or something like that.

  Are you sure? yes | no

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