A question for our American friends...

[Omag 2.0]

Silly question really, but I don't find the answer. When seeing political speeches in the US, there always seem to stand 2 standards with little plates on them, on the left and right side. I've recently seen old footage of a speech many decades ago and they were there too. So I don't think they are some sort of autocue. Anyone an idea what they are? I'm very curious...



Here's an image of them, look closely...

[AMDDDA]

Teleprompters?

[Apex]

Your post cut off right after "old footage of".

Are those "little plates" clear, like plastic?

[Omag 2.0]

They seem to be transparent and don't have text on them...

[expat]

It is Autoque, first used by Ronald Regan. The first time Maggie Thatcher saw it she thought it was bullet proof screens (as written in an autobiography).

Matt

[Omag 2.0]

Your post cut off right after "old footage of".

Hit the wrong button to soon...  ;)

[Apex]

Yeah, got it.  OK, it's been buggin' me forever.  Another mystery solved?   Anyone??

[a1]

They project words so the speaker can read off of them.


I thought they were for protection at first also.

[Apex]

Just googled it, it's "Autoque", a heads up teleprompter system.  Thanks, guys!  Learn something new every day here.

[Omag 2.0]

The transparency fooled me into thinking they were something else... I stand corrected...  :)

[Omag 2.0]

Would explain why mr. Obama always seems to look to the left or right, almost never dead center...

Anyway, thanks guys!

[AMDDDA]

Yup, teleprompters .

[machineman9]

Would explain why mr. Obama always seems to look to the left or right, almost never dead center...

Addressing the audience  ;)

(And reading off the teleprompt)



Pretty interesting how they work though.

[Hagar]

Just googled it, it's "Autoque"

It's spelt Autocue.

[Fozzer]

..another question....

"Washington"

When someone is going to "Washington", or mentions "Washington", how do we know whether they are referring to The State of Washington, or the Capital; Washington DC...(District of Columbia)...?

Same name, two entirely different places in the U.S.... ...!

Paul The Confused... ...!