We use AB Tutor in our school. It's very good.

 Yes it is easy to use. You can see a thunbnail of all of the computers in your room, zoom in to a particular one, take control of it, send pop up messages to various screens, allow the pupils to send you a message, lock computers, block internet access, turn off sound remotely, block any applications on any of the computers (great if you don't want your pupils using Powerpoint when you want them to use Word), log off computers, shut down computers, conduct surveys...oooooo the list goes on and on.

AB Tutor is very easy to use but I hardly use it - I freeze the kids machines during plenaries and  also find it convenient to create profiles for 'controlled conditions' exams. 

I know whether kids are using PowerPoint or Word because I will have been standing next to them 10-15 times in most lessons.

There is no substitute for getting off your ar$e, walking around the classroom and talking to the kids; in our subject, which is about as hands on as subjects get, you shouldn't be sitting at the front watching a bloody screen.

I would do everything in my power to sack someone who thought this was an appropriate way to behave.

I do worry that software like this encourages fat, lazy and incompetent teachers to do their worst

kbcom:

Your worries about 'fat, lazy and incompentant teachers' says more about your concern with your own school, than this software.

Actually, the profession and the future of the poor students.

Didn't say anything about you personally.