Laptop Screen Accessories

The screens on notebook computers have two problems: First, they are sometimes not visible enough, as is the case in bright sunlight. Second, they are sometimes too visible, as frequently happens on crowded airliners. Fortunately, accessories are available that can help solve both problems.

Screen Shades

Anyone who has used a notebook computer in direct sunlight knows that in very bright ambient light, a backlit LCD screen becomes unreadable. This can happen to all screens, even those with the best contrast.

A few companies offer laptop screen shades to keep sunlight from washing out an LCD screen (see Figure 14.23).

Figure 14.23. The PC Shade from ConnectGlobally.com. This shade enables laptop users to read LCD screens up to 15 inches in size in direct sunlight.

Privacy Shields

The other problem with laptop screens is exactly the reverse: The screens may be too readable. This happens in crowded situations, particularly on airliners. The size and contrast ratios of modern notebook computers are so good that several people sitting behind you can read your screen. If you are working on private or classified information, this could be a serious problem.

A handful of companies offer privacy shields for notebook computer screens. These are thin sheets of plastic that limit the viewing angle of a computer screen. With the screen in place, only a person sitting right in front of the screen can read it well.

3M manufactures its Notebook Privacy Computer Filters in various sizes for notebook LCD screens (see Figure 14.24). These filters use the company's patented "microlouver" technology. This technology, which is similar to a microscopic set of Venetian blinds, renders onscreen data visible only to people directly in front of the screen, while everyone else sees a blank screen.

Figure 14.24. The 3M Notebook Privacy Computer Filter limits the visibility of an LCD screen to only the user directly in front of it.