What is a confidence monitor?
A confidence monitor is a screen that lets a speaker see their slides, notes or script while facing the audience. It usually sits on the stage floor or at the back of the room, angled so the speaker can glance at it without turning around.
What it shows
- The current slide, so the speaker never has to turn to the projection screen.
- The next slide, so transitions sound planned rather than surprised.
- Speaker notes or key points.
- A timer or clock, often with a countdown so the speaker can pace the talk.
Where it goes
At conferences, confidence monitors are typically placed on the floor at the front of the stage (sometimes called "downstage monitors"), or on a stand at the back of the room above the audience's heads. The back-of-room position is better for eye contact: when the speaker looks at it, they appear to be looking at the audience.
In TV and video studios, the same idea appears as a screen mounted just below or beside the camera.
Confidence monitor vs. teleprompter
| Confidence monitor | Teleprompter | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A separate screen the speaker glances at | Text reflected on glass in front of the camera lens |
| Typical content | Slides, notes, timer | The full script, word for word |
| Eye contact | Good from the back of the room, weaker from the floor | Looks straight into the camera |
| Best for | Live talks with slides | Video, broadcast and recorded messages |
Using a confidence monitor on Zoom, Meet or Teams
On a video call, your webcam is the audience. The closer your notes are to the camera, the more natural you look. Practical options:
- Keep notes in a narrow window at the top-centre of your screen, right under the webcam, rather than in a second window off to the side.
- Use short lines and large text so your eyes move as little as possible.
- Avoid a second monitor for notes: turning your head is more noticeable than glancing down a few millimetres.
- Rehearse once with the notes in place and record yourself to check where your eyes go.
That is exactly what SocialAI Prompter does on a Mac: a slim, see-through strip under your webcam that scrolls your script as you speak.
Frequently asked questions
What is a confidence monitor?
A screen placed where a speaker can see it but the audience mostly can't, usually on the stage floor or at the back of the room, showing the current slide, the next slide, notes or a timer.
Is a confidence monitor the same as a teleprompter?
No. A teleprompter reflects the script onto glass in front of the camera lens so the speaker reads while looking straight into it. A confidence monitor is a separate screen the speaker glances at.
Why is it called a confidence monitor?
Because seeing what comes next gives the speaker confidence: they don't have to turn to the projection screen or memorise every slide.
How do I get a confidence monitor on Zoom?
Put your notes as close to the webcam as possible, ideally in a narrow strip at the top-centre of your screen, so your eyes stay near the camera while you read.