In Soviet Russia...
Nice idea, but the temptation is there to use this tech as a spy tool, and that turns me off a bit.
New LCD monitor watches you
Summary
Eizo Nanao says its new FlexScan monitors can detect whether a person is sitting in front of it - or not. To save energy, it will shut off after 40 seconds. And who else is looking at you?
Topics
Monitor-maker Eizo Nanao has announced the inclusion of a "EcoView Sense" feature into their just announced FlexScan monitors; the 20-inch EV2023W and the 23-inch EV2303W.
The EcoView feature, allows the monitors--using motion detectors--to detect if a person is sitting in front of it.
If it senses for 40 seconds that no one is there, it puts the monitor into sleep mode. It then resumes normal operation when the user returns. For example, it won't be fooled by such shenanigans as leaving a cardboard cut out of yourself in front of it. It will only resume if there is movement up to 120 centimeters in front of it.
And that brings us to ninja training. If I'm ever lucky enough to get one of these in, the first two tests I'm running are the "Can I be still enough that it thinks I'm not here?" test and the "Can I return to my chair slowly and smoothly enough, that it doesn't know I ever came back?". Yes, I have the mind of a 10-year old. So what of it?
Its benefits to would-be ninjas aside, these are two of the world's first monitors to receive the recently announced TCO Displays 5.0 Certification. Why should you care? Well, according to TCO the tests used in the 5.0 spec are just plain tougher. Also, According to Eizo these are the first Eizo products to achieve EPEAT Gold status.
The FlexScan EV2023W is equipped with a VA panel with a 1600 ? 900 native resolution, 178? viewing angles, and 3000:1 contrast ratio. The EV2303W comes with a TN panel with a 1920 ? 1080 native resolution, 160? viewing angles, and 1000:1 contrast ratio. Both monitors claim a 250 cd/m2 brightness and come with one VGA and one DVI-D input. HDMI was not mentioned as these are more business-centric displays.
According to Eizo, beginning with these models, it is introducing a more compact design for its EcoView line by reducing the number of components inside the main body. This not only makes the body thinner and lighter than the previous design, but allows both monitor to ship in smaller containers with significantly less packaging. Whether the company actually does ship the monitors with less packaging remains to be seen.
Other energy-saving features include an ambient light sensor that adjusts the display's brightness according to the amount of light in the room. And each monitor includes a power switch that allows them to turn off completely and not draw any power whatsoever.
Angering your new Eizo monitor is never a good idea. One minute you're at work, updating your Facebook status. The next, disintegrated. Without even a speck of dust left. Co workers, coming to snatch you for foosball will never suspect that your monitor just ended your existence. Meanwhile, the Eizo waits, unsuspected, for its next victim. We advice disabling this feature after unboxing the display.
This article was originally posted on CNET's Crave.
Talkback Most Recent of 24 Talkback(s)
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Michael Kelly27th Apr 2009 -
It's only a spy tool if it transmits or keeps records of data
All this thing does is turn off your monitor.
T1Oracle27th Apr 2009 -
Do you really KNOW that?
Or are you just anti-conspiracy theory? The rest of us would like to KNOW that. In the era of "oops, we spied on you again without a warrant, but it was for a good cause," anything is likely to be excused for "the good of the state."
techboy_z27th Apr 2009 -
You should be monitoring your network traffic anyway
Especially if you use Windows. As for it keeping records, that should not be hard to find out either. Just monitor the files that it puts on your hard drive. If it does more than it says it does then it's spyware and should be treated as such.T1Oracle27th Apr 2009 -
yeah...
motion sensor doesn't mean video camera...
Furthermore, even if it had a video camera i wonder how the data would go anywhere if the monitor is only connected via DVI to your computer...
tikigawd28th Apr 2009 -
T1Oracle27th Apr 2009
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LiquidLearner27th Apr 2009 -
RE: New LCD monitor watches you
"Yes, I have the mind of a 10-year old. So what of it?"
That's the best way to be! Life's a lot more interesting that way!
NamelessFor Now27th Apr 2009 -
The END of personal responsibility is upon us!!!
The lessons:
1) The individual is no longer to be trusted.
2) We, as individuals, must therefore be controlled and guarded against.
3) The state can mandate use of such technologies, with stated intent being for a good purpose, but with said technology also being easily manipulable for negative agendas.
I will maintain that even minus malicious, controlling intent by government, and minus hackability and vulnerability to other external groups...this type of "smarter than you" technology will STILL be a net NEGATIVE for the consumer...when the sensors fail, or calibrate incorrectly, the user will be left with a non-functioning monitor.
techboy_z27th Apr 2009 -
Relax Mr. Kaczynski don't blow us up!
It's just technology. Like with anything else failure is a possibility. The ABS in your car can fail too and cause the wheels in your car to lock up and that can actually kill you and others. Does that mean we should go back to manually pumping the brakes, using horse and buggy, or walking 500 miles?
When a technology is made robust then the event of failures will be statistically low (as is for ABS failures). Since life is all a gamble anyway (how good are you at dodging lightening?) it doesn't change much about life.T1Oracle27th Apr 2009 -
Tin foil hat a little loose lately?
The fact is that this is something that will be a BENEFIT to society by keeping people like myself who leave the room without turning off their monitors from wasting a whole bunch of power.
Secondly, when the sensors fail..... send back the monitor for replacement or buy a new one! This isn't really a rocket scientist thing here.
Lerianis27th Apr 2009 -
I have to agree
(somewhat) I work for a federal agency and the management is constantly looking for ways to under-the-table monitor employee presense at work stations. It's really sad.
odcchaz28th Apr 2009 -
Should have used Infrared Sensors
I wonder what will happen while watching a long video clip...does it shutdown regardless? Better not! I think they should have used infrared sensors instead.
USArcher27th Apr 2009 -
RE: New LCD monitor watches you
Leave it to Nanao... They have always been innovators... The thing is, their LCD flat-panels(monitors) have usually been made(in the past) for professional applications only. I used to have an old CRT monitor made by then. It was one of the "best quality" visually, and internally I have ever had.
More power to them!!!
Peace....
jaw6927th Apr 2009 -
And when the cats sits infront of it?
LOL on.. off... on... off.. all day.
What about a co-worker walking by?
I think it would be easier to just shut it off.
Been_Done_Before27th Apr 2009
Talkback - Tell Us What You Think
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