Laptop Privacy Hood
by Neil Schuldiner
The primary selling-point of mobile computing is the ability to condense the processing power of a desktop computer into a compact, sleek frame which can be conveniently utilized whether on train, plane, boat, automobile, or in the park, classroom, or boardroom. Unfortunately, the convenience of laptop portability has been hindered by two significant factors: light and the lack of privacy. Whether indoors or outdoors, sunlight, courtesy of mother nature, and bright fluorescent lighting both produce unsightly glare and render laptop screens demanding to view, resulting in excessive eyestrain for the unlucky laptop user. And thanks to most laptop screen’s accessible and open architecture, roaming and prying eyes can effortlessly glance at that private love letter you’re typing, or that confidential business memorandum you’re reading.
With the introduction of Laptop Privacy Hood(LPH), laptop users can finally gaze at their active matrix or TFT displays in all their XGA splendor, with the additional benefit of privacy. Measuring just 10 by 12.63 inches, the “medium” sized LPH (also available in small and large laptop versions) easily slipped onto our laptop screen and extended into shape in seconds. Unlike competing solutions, LPH doesn’t require permanent attachments such as Velcro to be fixed to your laptop screen. On our test model, once extended, the “hood” (which resembles a traditional camera bellow) successfully eliminated virtually all outdoor sunlight, as well as that especially annoying blinking indoor fluorescent glare. Because the hood is designed with a self-supporting bellow, we were able to adequately position the hood at a variety of lengths and angles with minimal obstruction of our screen; fully extended, no screen real estate was blocked.
For privacy freaks, the LPH makes it impossible for nosy neighbors to scrutinize your confidential data, as users must be directly in front of the laptop to view your screen’s contents.
Equally impressive is the LPH’s ability to act as a light shield for astronomers and night owls. Thanks to its privacy features, users can prevent light produced from your laptop from disturbing neighborly astronomers from viewing the nighttime nebula, planets, stars and clusters.
Finally, complementing the portability of laptops, the LPH architecture enables it to swiftly and conveniently collapse from its fully-extended mode into an easily transportable flat shape (measuring no thicker that one inch).
It is difficult not to recommend the LPH considering its benefits to the eyes and those looking for privacy outside the boundaries of the office. With its ability to rectify the two most common limitations of laptops, the LPH should be bundled with all new laptops.#
For more info, or online ordering log online at: www.canhamcameras.com/Bellows.html or call (480) 964-8624).
