In Brief

Eyes Off My Data

One of the hazards of using a computer in a public place is protecting sensitive onscreen data from prying eyes.

By Daintry Duffy

July 01, 2004 — CSO — One of the hazards of using a computer in a public place is protecting sensitive onscreen data from prying eyes. Whether you're working in a high-traffic area where passersby can view your work or are just seated next to a nosy neighbor on a plane, 3M has developed a new computer accessory it calls a privacy filter that shelters your screen from wandering eyes. The filter is a thin, dark panel that can be quickly attached and detached from a laptop monitor. 3M's patented "microlouver technology" prevents bystanders from viewing onscreen data from either side of a monitorall they can see is a dark, blank screen. However, for the user sitting directly in front of the screen, the image is perfectly clear. (The only change is a slight reduction in screen brightness.) In addition, all of 3M's monitor filters reduce screen glare, the primary cause of eyestrain and headache complaints from computer users. 3M's privacy filters are great for users who have to work in high-traffic areas as well as in industries where sensitive information is routinely handled (such as financial services), or where privacy precautions are mandated by law (as in health-care organizations).

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