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Making a Privacy Monitor From an Old LCD

Posted by samzenpus on from the wandering-eyes dept.

ryzvonusef writes "Instructables Member 'Dimovi' utilized a spare LCD monitor and converted it into a 'privacy' monitor. He took apart the monitor's plastic frame, cutting out the polarized film with a utility knife and removed the film adhesive from the glass panel before reassembling the monitor, which now shines a bright white regardless of what is actually being displayed on the screen. He then removed the lenses from a pair of theater 3D glasses, and replaced it with the polarized film he had just removed from the monitor. Now, he is the only one who can see what he is doing on his computer."

5 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Only one who can see the screen? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sure, unless anyone else is wearing polarized sunglasses in the vicinity.

  2. Re:Sunglasses by Luckyo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Iirc polarizing sun glasses always have horizontal polarization (or was it vertical, can't remember, it's basically aimed at removing the rays reflected off water surface).

    You can require exact opposite polarization here, meaning that sunglasses wouldn't work.

  3. Re:Sunglasses by trout007 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I did a quick test at my desk with my polarized sunglasses and two different monitors. Both blocked the light when I tilted my head 45 degrees to the right and it was at full brightness 45 degrees to the left. The image only was completely blocked in a very narrow range.

    --
    I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
  4. Re:Great hack. by pulski · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd be willing to bet that the minute someone on an airplane sees you staring at an all white screen for any period of time there will be an Air Marshal tapping you on the shoulder.

  5. Re:Sunglasses by Luckyo · · Score: 1, Insightful

    You and several others who suggested this probably didn't think of two major problems:

    1. You're going to be pretty obvious
    2. You head weighs a LOT. Neck muscles are designed to keep your head straight and turn it, and tilt it for a few moments, mostly into front or back (i.e. getting view of your surroundings, what's right in front of you and above you). Prolonged attempt at even a modest 45 deg sideways tilt will have your neck muscles scream for mercy in just a couple of minutes unless you're very fit - we're just not designed for that kind of strain.