On-screen annotation or screen marker software allows to annotate whole desktop screens and its applications and save the result. It can be categorized as a combination of presentation, whiteboard, screen capturing and note taking tool.
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Such software is very useful for teachers who present in class a mix of software, pictures and other stuff and who don't want to spend time preparing slides vs. preparing cool teaching activities and useful materials....
It is also a very useful screen capturing and annotation tool. People like me usually forget something when we make a screen capture. After some annotating we figure out that we should restart (or keep the one that includes missing stuff). With screen markers you can take the screenshot after the annotation...
Features such a system may have are:
With respect to features and intended use, one could distinguish several kinds of sofware.
(1) Software for preparing high-quality annotated screenshots
Below is a screenshot for Presentation marker, a commercial tool:
(2) Light-weight annotation tools for life presentations
The next screen shot shows the opposite kind of tool. Screen marker is a simple ink-based annotation tool, free and easy to use. No text, no screen capture, etc.
Teachers, for example, also may be interested in tools like ink-based collaborative annotation system (e.g. Classroom Presenter) or use whiteboard tools that allow for writing on the screen.
(3) Sofware that includes other features
E.g. screen recording or features for annotation special formats
We found it difficult to find such software and found this quite surprising. After all, one often wants to paint on the screen, both for live presentation and to create annotated screenshots. The problem is actually rather the decay of Google, i.e. they really should stop giving search rank to these hundreds of useless link and screen scrapping websites that will "hide" open source resources and websites of companies that actually do sell something that is useful. Anyhow I found two tools I can recommend. - Daniel K. Schneider 20:12, 31 March 2011 (CEST))
Presentation Marker
Presentation Marker from GoldGingko “The screen marker software allows users to mark on screen directly and zoom into certain portions for quick explanation. Moreover, it offers more additional tools – Spotlight, Curtain, Screen Digital Clock, Arrow Point, Magnification, Screen Capture etc.” Best feature rich tool I have found (see the screen shot above). For some people the tool palette may be overkill. $30 Daniel K. Schneider 11:34, 1 April 2011 (CEST).
Netop pointer
Netop pointer (PC/Mac) Good tool. Price unknown (CHF 73.15 + VAT). The "feature" I really dislike is that I have to select a drawing tool before each gesture. I.e. I can't go on annotating with the same tool without returning to the palette. Therefore, not recommended, however there may be a hidden option I didn't find. A good feature that others don't have is numbering (i.e. it inserts a sequential number in front of every inserted object)
Annotate Pro
Annotate Pro seems to have been one of the best cheap tools. See the feature list $20. I find this software more ergonomic than Netop pointer, but I am getting display errors with arrows and other geometric figures, i.e. a white rectangle interleaves with drawings. It will go away after clicking twice on the transparency button. (Win 7 64-bit Dell 1730 /Dell XT2). Not recommended for Windows 7.
Screen Marker
ScreenMarker “s a little piece of software that lets you make annotations on your computer screen.” (Warning: difficult to know who is behind this ....). This is the easiest tool to use and it's free. Recommended for people who just need some ink-based drawing.
Presentation Pointer
Presentation Pointer “makes it easy for your audience to follow your actions on the screen.”. Also displays keystrokes and free hand drawing on the screen. Not tested.
Screen Marker
Ultimate Pen
Ultimate Pen (Mac) “Ultimate Pen can be used for drawing on just about anything, it is particularly useful when working with presentation software. You may add notes, draw shapes, make comments, or add illustrations directly on the screen.” $ 20. not tested.
DemoHelper
DemoHelper (Windows) “DemoHelper is an annotation and screen zoom tool you can use for technical presentations that include application demonstrations.” Open-source, free, single-file downloadable executable, just works.
ZoomIt
ZoomIt (Windows) “ZoomIt is a screen zoom and annotation tool for technical presentations that include application demonstrations.” Free (but not open/source) tool from Microsoft (via SysInternals); simple single-color drawing/annotation feature enabled via hotkey (Ctrl-2 by default).
Gromit-MPX
Gromit-MPX (Linux) Open-source, free tool for Linux systems, with (Wacom) pen pressure and eraser support.
Ink2Go
Ink2Go is a combined screen annotation and screen capture software. In other words, annotations can either be saved as images or *.wmf videos. Annotation features are simple, i.e. one can use either a configurable pen or a highlighter. Recent version include text. The program is easy to learn just by looking at the tool tips. A very useful feature are "pages".
Tested on Win7, $20. Very good buy if you are interested in life annotations, e.g. in a classroom or a workshop. Disclosure: I got a free evaluation copy - Daniel K. Schneider3 May 2011/sept. 2013.
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