Wireless presenters allow teachers, lecturers and businessmen to control their Powerpoint (PPT) slides remotely. This frees them from the notebook or PC and allows them to engage their audience better.
Basic models can cost as little as $30. Advanced units cost over $100. Popular brands include Microsoft (models 8000, 3000), Targus (AMP01US), Logitech and Kensington (33373, Si600).
What is a Wireless Presenter?
Wireless presenters are designed mainly to control Microsoft Powerpoint on Windows PCs. Other software (web browsers, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Keynote etc) usually work too. Apple Macintosh and GNU/Linux machines might encounter issues if the unit is not designed for them.
Though simple, such a device can make a big difference in the quality and professionalism of a presentation. An assistant who sits at the PC and manually advances the slides, isn't always available or well synchronized with the speaker.
How Wireless PPT Presenters Work
The simplest wireless presenters are cut-down wireless keyboards. The PC thinks an external keyboard is connected. The difference is that the "keyboard" only has a few keys:
- Page Down, to go to the next slide.
- Page Up, to go to the previous slide.
Though designed for Powerpoint, Page Up and Page Down will also work well in controlling many other applications.
Advantages
- No driver software required. The interface is a standard plug-and-play USB or Bluetooth interface.
- Can usually be used on Macintosh and GNU/Linux machines.
Disadvantage
- Limited functionality. Only keyboard commands can be sent.
Additional keys are usually provided as well:
- F5, to switch Powerpoint from Design to Presentation mode, starting with the first slide. For other applications, the effect of F5 can be changed through the application or operating system settings.
- "b", to toggle between Powerpoint Presentation mode and a black blank screen.
- Escape, to switch Powerpoint from Presentation to Design mode.
- Alt-Escape, to switch between applications.
Bluetooth Versus USB RF Wireless Presenters
Most new models use 2.4 GHz RF (radio frequency), not infrared, for communication. The presenter doesn't need to be pointed directly at the receiver on the PC, but interference with other devices is possible.
Bluetooth wireless presenters don't need a separate USB receiver, but setting up the PC's bluetooth communications isn't something the average user knows how to do. These should theoretically work with Mac and Linux machines. Bluetooth units usually come with a USB Bluetooth receiver, in case the PC doesn't have a built-in receiver.
More common are wireless presenters that use a proprietary USB receiver. A USB port is used up, but there's no need to mess around with Bluetooth settings. The PC sees a normal USB keyboard, not a wireless keyboard. These should also work with Mac OSX and GNU/Linux.
Some wireless presenters (example: Microsoft) require software to be installed. They have additional features such as programmable keys and on-screen highlighting of text.
Wireless Presenter and Mouse
For controlling non-Powerpoint applications, such as multimedia players, a wireless mouse is useful:
- Some wireless mouse models are bundled with a presenter, but the mouse still needs to be rolled over a table when used. This is the case for the Microsoft models.
- A "real" wireless mouse for presentations, can be used without a table, held in the hand while walking around. Some use trackballs or joysticks. Others, like the Logitech Air (a pure wireless mouse, no presenter), are waved in the air like a Nintendo wii video game controller.
- Simpler wireless mouse models use Up, Down, Left and Right arrow keys to control the mouse cursor. This works, but can be clumsy. Click-and-drag mouse operations often aren't supported directly, but can be simulated with the ClickLock mouse properties setting in Windows.
Like the presenter, the wireless mouse usually looks like a normal USB or Bluetooth mouse to the PC.
Wireless Presenter Features
Features to be considered include:
- Wireless range. Typical ranges are 30 feet for basic models, to 100 feet for premium models.
- Batteries used. AAA batteries are cheap and easy to find. Button or coin cell batteries should be avoided.
- Low battery indicator.
- Volume control.
- Signal strength/range indicator.
- Countdown timer with vibration alarm, to avoid running over time.
- "Click" or tactile feedback buttons.
- Auto-repeating keys to quickly scroll through multiple Powerpoint slides.
- Flash thumbdrive (to store Powerpoint files) integrated with the USB receiver.
- Built-in laser pointer. The Health Physics Society website has an article on laser pointer power and brightness.
The Best Wireless Presenter
The simplest wireless presenter that will do the job, should be chosen. More complicated models mean more chances of pressing the wrong button (not a good thing to do in front of an audience), or a complicated software setup. A driverless model (no software installation) will have the widest PC and operating system (Mac, GNU/Linux) compatibility.
Yuen Kit Mun - Kit Mun is a self-confessed information junkie, reading an average of a book a week over the past two decades. His growing Internet ...
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