{
  "id": 3855929,
  "title": "Where Should I Look? 3 Small UX Problems in Remote Demos",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/where-should-i-look-3-small-ux-problems-in-remote-demos",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-28T00:57:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/masaki_iino_60e1ef88991b5/where-should-i-look-3-small-ux-problems-in-remote-demos-2n1d"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In remote software demos, the biggest problem often isn't the product itself. Sometimes, the audience struggles to know where to look. Even when a button is visible, a setting is on screen, or the presenter is explaining everything correctly, attention can still be directed poorly. After conducting numerous screen sharing and software demos, I noticed several small UX issues repeatedly.\n\nFirstly, the cursor may be visible but not easily noticeable. When presenting your own screen, you're always aware of the pointer's location. However, the audience may require a moment or two to locate it, especially in a large monitor, compressed video call, or busy application UI. This delay, though seemingly minor, can disrupt the flow of a demo as the presenter moves on to the next step while some audience members are still trying to find the previous point of interest.\n\nSecondly, simply moving the mouse around the desired elements doesn't always effectively direct attention. While this workaround can highlight buttons or charts, it also adds visual noise. Over time, I realized that there are two distinct actions happening during a demo: navigation (using the mouse to interact with the software) and attention (indicating where the audience should look). These actions aren't always the same, as there might be instances when the presenter wants to draw attention without clicking or altering the interface.\n\nThirdly, highlighting something with annotation tools can sometimes interrupt the demo. While these tools are beneficial for drawing arrows, writing notes, or adding shapes, using them during a live product demo can change the presentation's rhythm. The workflow typically involves pausing the product operation, selecting an annotation tool, highlighting the desired element, clearing the annotation, and resuming the demo. Although this process may seem simple, it disrupts the presentation's flow. I desired a more streamlined approach—having a visual cue that appears on demand, remains unnoticed until needed, and then disappears, allowing for continued interaction with the software.\n\nTo address these issues, I developed a small utility called Pointer Cue. The concept is simple and straightforward. On a Mac, pressing Command displays a temporary ring around the pointer. On Windows, the equivalent action uses Control. By holding the key and dragging, you can temporarily outline an area of the screen. The Mac version also includes a Focus Cue that makes the active window stand out when the rest of the desktop is distracting. Pointer Cue avoids the need for additional drawing palettes or annotation modes, enabling the presenter to add visual cues only when necessary without disrupting the demo's flow.\n\nIt's important to note that Pointer Cue isn't meant to replace full screen drawing or presentation tools. Instead, it is designed to tackle a specific problem: helping the audience know where to look without interrupting the presentation. For those interested in learning more about Pointer Cue, details and a free version can be found at https://lp.toybird.com/pointer-cue/. However, my primary focus is on the broader question: when conducting remote demos or screen shares, what strategies can be employed to ensure that the audience knows where to look without disrupting the presented content?",
  "summary": "In remote software demos, the biggest problem is not always the product itself. Sometimes the audience simply doesn’t know where to look. A button may be visible. A setting may already be on screen. The presenter may be explaining everything correctly. But if attention isn’t directed clearly, people can still get lost. After doing a lot of screen sharing and software demos, I kept noticing the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Audience struggles to locate cursor in remote demos",
    "Moving mouse around elements adds visual noise",
    "Annotation tools interrupt demo flow"
  ],
  "editors_take": "A new utility, Pointer Cue, aims to address common UX issues in remote software demos, allowing presenters to direct audience attention without disrupting the presentation's flow.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}