In crowded places like public transportation, it’s hard to escape the gaze of others while using a smartphone. Many people use privacy protection films to prevent the screen from being visible at certain angles, as private content on the screen can easily be exposed.
Privacy protection films come in two types: 180-degree side and 360-degree full cover. The latter blocks the view from all angles, but the downside is that the screen becomes darker, and the color representation is inaccurate.
The ‘micro louver’ technology inspires the principle of blocking the gaze. Louver refers to a partition, and the viewing angle can be adjusted depending on the gap or height of the louver. The film arranges the louvers in a blind-like structure, changing the visibility depending on the screen’s position.
Implementing built-in screen technology instead of film
Is it possible to add a gaze-blocking feature directly to the display? Looking at a recent patent filed by Apple with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it doesn’t seem impossible. On November 21 (local time), the IT specialist media AppleInsider reported that Apple had filed a patent related to display personal information protection technology.
The patent is divided into two main parts. First, a patent named Privacy Film for Curved Screen. It is a method of adding a privacy film layer on top of the display.
This film layer acts as a polarizing filter. It makes the light emit in only one direction. Like the privacy above protection film, it allows the display to be properly viewed only from a specific direction. While the screen is not visible from the side, it can’t prevent screen exposure from directly behind the user.
Apple also submitted a patent for a ‘display with adjustable viewing angle,’ introducing an electrically controllable filter inside the display to allow the user to control screen polarization. In other words, it will enable the display viewing angle to be arbitrarily changed.
The viewing angle of the latest smartphone displays varies depending on the panel, but it’s typically around 170 degrees. This means the screen is visible from almost all angles. Apple’s patent contains a principle that makes electrochemical materials opaque by applying current to the electrode by the control circuit. It’s a method of adjusting the viewing angle by installing an electrically controllable filter inside the display. Unlike privacy film, it’s a technology directly integrated into the display.
However, this method also does not provide perfect privacy. Because if someone looks at the same angle from behind the user, they can still see the screen. Foreign media described it as enhancing user privacy protection without damaging the display quality.
Are there any other ways?
Some high-end laptops support privacy features on the display. They use gaze tracking or ambient recognition features to prevent anyone other than the user from seeing the screen. They adjust the viewing angle directly from the laptop so that the screen is not visible from different angles.
Samsung Electronics’ Secret Screen function is a representative example. If you install the Samsung Security app, you can use ‘transparent effect’ and ‘dark screen effect’ features similar to privacy film. The transparent effect is a function that makes the screen hazy by reducing the transparency of the screen. As the transparency decreases, it is difficult to recognize the content because it overlaps with the background screen. The dark screen effect is a function that makes the screen dark by reducing the screen brightness. You can quickly run it by pressing the Windows key and the F11 key at the same time.
Expected to prevent visual hacking
Foreign media expected Apple’s new patent to prevent ‘Visual Hacking.’ Visual hacking refers to peeping at someone else’s PC, laptop, smartphone, etc. While hacking generally involves using specific tools or software, visual hacking allows easy theft of others’ information without special devices or technology.
Visual hacking occurs frequently in everyday life. A representative example is when withdrawing cash from ATMs. The warning message ‘Be careful not to expose your password to others or cameras’ comes up for this reason. Visual hacking is also possible when entering the front door lock password. Since smartphones, which are used daily, also have a high risk of hacking, Apple’s new patent is expected to help strengthen security.
By. Kim Ha Young
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