The 10 Best Presentation Remotes
Editor's Notes
November 13, 2020:
In this update, we replaced the DinoFire DR100 with the newer and more full-featured DinoFire TK701, which incorporates a red laser pointer that’s easy to see over just about any slide background. Unlike many others, this one can be clipped conveniently to a shirt pocket, as you would a pen, so you won’t find yourself wondering what you did with it when you’re packing up after your presentation. It also comes with a convenient pouch to help protect it during storage or transport. Its simple plug-and-play design doesn’t require the download of any software, and its built-in battery is easy to recharge when you plug it in to a USB port. We also added in the highly popular Logitech R800, which features a bright green laser printer that’s easy to see, even in brightly lit rooms and on plasma and LCD screens. This remote’s display incorporates a timer and lets you set silent vibrating alerts, in your choice of long- or short-pulse, so you’re sure to know how soon your allotted time will be up and how long you’ve been on a given slide. It replaces the Doosl DSIT001B, which is unavailable at this time. The newly added Logitech joins the tried-and-true Logitech Spotlight, which comes in a sleek finish of black or gold that makes it look professional in any boardroom. Unlike many others, this one lets you highlight or magnify items on the screen with ease.
We also moved the Kensington K33374USB into a more prominent position on the list, as it has a lot to offer as far as comfort, portability and durability. Its contoured shape allows it to fit nicely in the hand, and its simple four-button configuration lets you to control it with ease. Also from the same manufacturer, the Kensington Expert K72427AMA comes with an 8-gigabyte SD card that you can insert directly into the included USB receiver, so you can conveniently store your presentation right there. It’s got a built-in joystick for mouse control, along with bright backlit buttons and a light-up indicator that lets you know when the battery is low. No matter which of these handy devices catches your eye, make sure it’s compatible with your operating system and the software you wish to use it with.
November 13, 2019:
During this update, we had to remove a lot of our previous recommendations due to newer versions being released and/or availability issues. One such model was the Red Star Tec PR-819, which was replaced with the more recently released Red Star Tech PR-820. The latter offers significantly more functionality than the former and is ideal for someone who wants a greater level of control over their laptop when across the room.
Another example is the Logitech R400, but unfortunately in this case, the new iteration suffered from too many complaints of connectivity issues over Bluetooth. So instead of including the newer Logitech model, we completely replaced it with the Bluetooth-capable Satechi ST-APAM, which has one of the most premium looks of any of the options on our list. We did, however, keep the Logitech Spotlight, which also offers Bluetooth functionality and has some great features most others don't, like the ability to highlight or magnify items on the the screen.
The Amerteer Wireless Presenter is the most compact new addition to the list. Rather than having to hold it in the palm of your hand, it slips right over your ring finger. Though small in size, it matches other models in functionality. While on the topic of holding these devices, we would be remiss if you we didn't point out the contoured shape of the Kensington K33374USB, which may look a little funny, but feels very comfortable in the hand.
If something slim is what you are after, there DinoFire DR100 and Doosl DSIT001B are the best options. They both come for a very affordable price and can easily be slipped in a pocket when no longer needed during your presentation.
The Power Of The Presentation
Researchers designed an experiment in which humans were given 20-150 milliseconds to look at an image and decide if it contained an animal or not.
A visually stunning presentation can produce powerful results. Eloquence in speech, coupled with knowledgeable and engaging slides can properly entrance the audience, taking them on a journey and inspiring them to take action. The visual aspect of a presentation may be the most important. While people may remember lines from important speeches, studies have shown that the quick visual processing speed in humans actually plays into learning in a more powerful way.
Researchers designed an experiment in which humans were given 20-150 milliseconds to look at an image and decide if it contained an animal or not. To put this in perspective, the average blink of an eye takes roughly 300 milliseconds. 94 percent of the tested subjects were able to correctly answer whether or not an animal was in the picture in less than half the time of the average blink.
This concept is now known as ultra rapid visual categorization, and describes the amazing speed at which humans digest visual information. The current research shows that by 150ms, the eyes and brain have communicated enough information to allow for decisions to be made, and much of the actual processing happens even faster than this.
Similar studies have shown that humans can recognize a face in as little as 50 milliseconds, and categorize most other images in just under 80 milliseconds. This makes the visual elements of any presentation that much more important. From the presentation of the speaker, to the layout of their slides, the audience picks up subconscious clues and makes decisions about the presentation before the speaker ever blinks.
The Benefits Of Presentation Remotes
The benefits of using a presentation remote to control the progression of slides in various types of presentation software are quite easy to understand. The ability to be far away from the computer can be pivotal in the success of a presentation. To a computer, presentation remotes act just like very small keyboards with limited functions. The controls on a presentation remote simply hit the same forward and backward buttons as the cursor keys on a regular computer keyboard.
The controls on a presentation remote simply hit the same forward and backward buttons as the cursor keys on a regular computer keyboard.
Without a presentation remote, presenters are left with the options of manually pressing the keys or mouse by themselves, or working out a complicated system of hand signals with someone offstage who is controlling the device. In either case, this leads to large breaks in the presentation, increased stage anxiety, and a generally bored audience. Especially if the speech or presentation requires timing or contains comedic slides; much of the luster is lost during these empty pauses.
Using a presentation remote gives the presenter full control of their slideshow. If the audience misses key points on a previous slide, there is no hurrying over to the keyboard to bring it back up; it is simply a click away.
There is also the added functionality that many presentation remotes offer. Many presentation remotes have built in functions, such as laser pointers. These make it simple to highlight key points of a slide, just be certain not to aim it at the eyes of audience members.
Giving The Greatest Presentation
The most important aspect of delivering a great presentation is preparation. An experienced speaker will rehearse their presentation many times through in front of a mirror, pet, or loved one; in order to prepare themselves for difficult phrases or work out the timing of their slides. On the day of the presentation, a great speaker will be equipped with a presentation remote, notes on their speech, water to relieve a dry throat, and perhaps tissues or a towel to absorb sweat from their brow.
While audiences are forgiving, too many of these disfluencies can distract the audience and destroy credibility as a presenter.
Nervousness is normal, especially for first time speakers. For those with a fear of public speaking, this can manifest itself as anxiety, increased heart rate, and a sense of critically focusing on themselves. Even for confident presenters a noted reaction occurs in the body; increasing heart rate, breathing rate and the rate at which they speak, though they may be unaware. Especially for first time speakers, it is important to slow down their speech to a seemingly awkward degree.
The presenter is often not only thinking about the sentence they are saying, they are thinking about the entire speech. When they open their mouth to speak, their normal rate of presenting can seem lightning-fast to the audience. By slowing their presentation down to an uncomfortable degree in their minds, presenters help calm their own minds and speak at a regular speed.
The second greatest step a presenter can take to ensure a great speech is to eliminate speech disfluencies as much as possible. Disfluencies such as false starts, repeated phrases, switched words, and the word um can make up over six percent of all speeches. While audiences are forgiving, too many of these disfluencies can distract the audience and destroy credibility as a presenter. The easiest way to remove disfluencies from the speaking voice is to focus on only the presentation that is being given, and not allowing the mind to wander.