A great travel clock, especially if you give talks or lectures!

Monday, March 22^nd, 2010, Netcast 1051

Roadshow Alarm, shown open (right) closed (left)The complete long name for this clever producer is the Roadshow Companion Travel Alarm & Presentation Timer. But I’ll just call it the Roadshow Travel Alarm. Yes, it a regular travel clock, but it also allows folks who give talks, addresses and boardroom presentations to keep track of their time through its unique LED lecture timer functionality. While picturing your audience in their underwear is said to help alleviate the stress of being in the spotlight, the Roadshow excels at alleviating the other half of the fear of public speaking: wondering if you’re staying with the presentation’s allotted time. Here’s how the Roadshow Presentation Timer works: there are six color LED lamps across the top of the clock that illuminate sequentially (in Auto mode) or change at intervals of your choosing (in Manual mode). In the auto mode, enter the time your lecture or talk is supposed to take, say for example 30 minutes. The clock divides this into six equal segments. For 30 minutes they’ll be 5 minutes each. For each 5 minutes of talk, a green LED sequentially lights. At the half way mark, a yellow LED comes on, then 5 minutes later, the next yellow LED light. At five minutes before the end of your talk, a red LED lights. This simple and unobtrusive visual pacing device helps keep your presentation on track. Flexible settings allow the Roadshow to work whatever your time needs. (I think the max is four hours, but your audience will have left long before then!!) Note that the LED’s are sequential. In order words, when the next LED down the line lights, the one before it goes out. You don’t end up with 6 LED’s on at once.) Of course Leo already ordered one. He has no fear of speaking in public, but he does like to know the timing for certain events where he has to be on and off the stage at a preset time. Another thing I like about this clock is that it shows both the time of day and alarm time, plus a big ON or OFF for the alarm. And there’s a snooze feature. Normal price for the Roadshow is $29.95, but right now it’s on special at their website for $19.95. I contacted the company, American Innovative, and asked them if could please hold the sale price for a couple of weeks until folks get to hear this Netcast. In case it meets their needs, the price break is great. They kindly said they would.  

http://www.americaninnovative.com/products/roadshow.php# 

Hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1051