NEC works up LCD with switchable viewing angles

If Rockwell's Somebody's Watching Me pretty much sums up your life, NEC apparently understands your pain paranoia. In an effort to help out, the firm has developed an LCD "that can switch between wide and narrow viewing angles without impairing image quality." This ability enables viewers to narrow the 140-degree viewing angle down to 30-degrees so that any plans to sneak a peek at what you're glancing at are immediately subverted. Furthermore, NEC's technology is said to differ from other alternatives by "not causing image quality to deteriorate," as it relies on a function of the rear plate (as opposed to the panel's front plate) to handle the switcheroo. If everything stays on track, expect these units to hit the market sometime next year in everything from ATMs to laptops. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

[Image courtesy of NEC]

[MikeReds @ Oct 24th 2007 12:48PM]

Wait a sec. One of the criteria I've always used to shop for lcd's has been how clear the picture is from various angles to make viewing easy for everyone.

So what could possibly be a reason for wanting to change that so it's only viewable in certain angles?

Only thing I can think of is kids wanting to watch porn in the same room as their parents without them knowing what's going on!

[Joshua Blackwell @ Oct 24th 2007 1:20PM]

It would be used mostly for commercial situations. Like for instance at hospitals, doctor offices ect they are required to protect patient data from unauthorized viewing. Right now most use the 3m style privacy screens, this would eliminate that need.

[Wwhat @ Oct 24th 2007 5:37PM]

The article mentions ATM (automatic teller machines) and laptops by name heh.

[anonymous @ Oct 24th 2007 1:02PM]

being an admin at work, I can just imagine the amount of porn that will be viewed at work since only the person directly in front of the monitor will be able to see what is on the monitor.

[Wwhat @ Oct 24th 2007 5:39PM]

You admin computers by looking over people's shoulders? what country are you in if I may ask?

[roger_huston @ Oct 24th 2007 2:01PM]

I would love this for my laptop. I fly a lot and what I am working on is no one's business. Plus, for those people who are forced to work in those large bullpin work environments would probably enjoy a bit more privacy.

Of course, after seeing everyone at the Engadget event I would assume most people here would see it as an opportunity to watch porn at work.

- Roger

[Wwhat @ Oct 24th 2007 5:40PM]

Won't the hand in their pants give them away though?

[CaptSaltyJack @ Oct 24th 2007 3:46PM]

Win. Now I can view pr0n at work.

[Wwhat @ Oct 24th 2007 5:43PM]

It's a cute thing to say I guess but come on, what job doesn't run network blocks and checks but relies on 'over-the-shoulder' technology to prevent people 'jerking around' if you pardon the pun.
Do any of those people that make that joke even have employment? with computers?

[Sam @ Oct 24th 2007 4:08PM]

Nice optical illusion.

The bottoms of the side monitors are actually parallel.

[Twitchy @ Oct 24th 2007 4:11PM]

Nice, now I can get away with staring at a blank monitor for hours.

[Wwhat @ Oct 24th 2007 5:38PM]

haha, genius.