Telestrator A telestrator is a device that allows its operator to draw a freehand sketch over a moving or still video image . The telestrator ( or video marker ) is most famously recognized in sports and weather broadcasts to diagram and analyze sports plays or incoming weather patterns . The user typically draws on a touchscreen with a finger or uses a pen on a graphics tablet . From the touchscreen or tablet , the drawing signal is communicated to the telestrator , which overlays the video image with the drawing and outputs the combined signal for broadcast or display . Today , the telestrator is used in a wide variety of applications , from educational , boardroom , church and military presentations to telemedicine conferences , where it can be used by both the near and far ends to annotate precise details of microscopic images or other medical images that are under consultation . The telestrator is also used in courtrooms to communicate details of multi - media images presented to a jury , as was most famously seen during the O . J . Simpson trial in 1995 . History . The telestrator was invented by physicist Leonard Reiffel , who used it to draw illustrations on a series of science shows he did for public television ' s WTTW - ch11 in Chicago in the late 1950s . After he ’ d been using it to help illustrate details to his young science audience , he approached Chicago ’ s CBS affiliate WBBM - ch2 suggesting it be used in sports and weather . Bears football player - turned - sportscaster Johnny Morris , who worked on the channel , picked it up began to use it , as did the station ’ s weatherman . According to Mr . Reiffel , “ After that , New York began to hear about it , and it went on from there . ” The user interface for early telestrators required the user to draw on a TV screen with a light pen , whereas modern implementations are commonly controlled with a touch screen or graphics tablet . NFL color commentator John Madden famously used a telestrator during football games for many years , boosting the device ' s popularity . His trademark frequent use of the device has been parodied on a number of occasions by comedian Frank Caliendo . During his time as a color commentator for NBC and TNT , Mike Fratello has been referred to as " The Czar of the Telestrator " from Marv Albert for his masterful way of diagram ming basketball plays on screen . Howie Meeker , NHL hockey color commentator and studio analyst , used the telestrator for many years on CBC ' s " Hockey Night in Canada " to analyze plays during intermissions . He was famous for shouting instructions to " the boys in the truck " such as , " Back it up ! Back it up ! " and , " Stop it right there ! " in his trademark squeaky voice . Wrestling announcer Bobby Heenan briefly used this while in the then - World Wrestling Federation , calling it " The Brain Scan " . He would usually use it during a post - match replay to doodle derogatory pictures or comments . Reiffel won the 2004 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy for his invention . He is one of two individuals to receive the award , which is usually given to companies and groups . Today , telestrators are widely used in broadcasts of all major sports . They have also become a useful tool in televised weather reports . It is also used by Ian Waite on Britain ' s and humorously on the U . S . reality game show " Wipeout " , mostly by John Henson . The telestrator was also parodied on an episode of the FOX TV animated series " Family Guy " in November 2009 . Distributors . Some telestrator manufacturers include Boeckeler Instruments , makers of the Pointmaker and Video Chalk product lines ; Chyron , which manufactures the CodiStrator ; and Mediavision ’ s Point - HD , the latter of which is software only . Many of these products offer more than simple drawing capabilities , such as pre - made arrows , circles and other graphics . There are also several web - based telestrator software manufacturers that allow the general consumer to purchase and download telestrator software for use on personal videos or as an application for the iPhone or Android . Telestrator capabilities are also being offered pre - installed in a variety of projection and video devices .