Polarized enhanced confidentiality
A system for selectively controlling visibility of information in an environment is provided. The system includes one or more polarized emissive screens and polarized non-emissive surfaces located within the work environment. The screens have a first direction of polarization and the surfaces have a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization. Information displayed on the screens and surfaces are visible to a person inside the work environment. The work environment includes at least one window which permits viewing of the polarized emissive screens and non-emissive surfaces from outside of the work environment. A polarizing filter having a second direction of polarization arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization is positioned proximate to the window. A person outside the work environment can see inside the environment through the window, but has an altered view of the information on the displays and surfaces.
1. A system for controlling visibility of information in an enclosed work environment, the system comprising:
one or more polarized electronic screens located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized electronic screens have a first direction of polarization and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized electronic screens is visible to a person inside the enclosed work environment;
one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces have a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization of the one or more polarized electronic screens and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces is visible to the person inside the enclosed work environment;
wherein the enclosed work environment is enabled to allow for a person to have a view within the work environment including viewing of the one or more polarized electronic screens and non-electronic surfaces from outside of the enclosed work environment; and
a polarizing filter positioned proximate to and extending across a camera lens, wherein the polarizing filter has a second direction of polarization and wherein the second direction of polarization is arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization;
wherein a person outside of the enclosed work environment can see inside of the enclosed work environment through the camera lens, but has a similarly altered view of the information on the one or more polarized electronic displays and one or more polarized non-electronic surfaces.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera lens is operably connected to a video conferencing system.
3. A system for controlling visibility of information in an enclosed work environment, the system comprising:
one or more polarized emissive screens located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized emissive screens have a first direction of polarization and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized emissive screens is visible to a person inside the enclosed work environment;
one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces located within the enclosed work environment, wherein the one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces have a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization of the one or more polarized emissive screens and wherein information displayed on the one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces is visible to the person inside the enclosed work environment;
wherein the enclosed work environment comprises at least one substantially transparent window which permits viewing of the one or more polarized emissive screens and non-emissive surfaces from outside of the enclosed work environment; and
a polarizing filter positioned proximate to and extending across the at least one substantially transparent window, wherein the polarizing filter has a second direction of polarization and wherein the second direction of polarization is arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization;
wherein a person outside of the enclosed work environment can see inside of the enclosed work environment through the transparent window, but has a similarly altered view of the information on the one or more polarized emissive displays and one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more polarized emissive screens comprise a display screen.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the display screen comprises an LCD or LED display.
6. The system of claim 4 further comprising a network connected to the one or more emissive display screens.
7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more polarized non-emissive surfaces comprise a vertical surface.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the vertical surface comprises a whiteboard.
9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second direction of polarization is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction of polarization.
10. A system for preventing visibility of information in an enclosed room, the system comprising:
at least one polarized electronic display screen located within the enclosed room, wherein the at least one polarized electronic display screen includes a first direction of polarization;
at least one polarized non-electronic whiteboard located within the enclosed room, wherein the at least one polarized non-electronic whiteboard includes a direction of polarization substantially aligned with the first direction of polarization of the one or more polarized electronic display screens;
wherein the enclosed room comprises at least one substantially transparent window for viewing of the at least one polarized electronic display screen and non-electronic whiteboard from outside of the enclosed room; and
a polarizing filter positioned proximate to and extending across the at least one substantially transparent window, wherein the polarizing filter has a second direction of polarization, and wherein the second direction of polarization is arranged at an angle to the first direction of polarization;
wherein a person outside of the enclosed room cannot see information on the at least one polarized electronic display screen and polarized non-electronic whiteboard.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein information displayed on the at least one polarized electronic display screen is visible to a person inside the enclosed room.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the display screen comprises an LCD or LED display.
13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a network connected to the LCD or LED display.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the information displayed on the at least one polarized non-electronic whiteboard is visible to a person inside the enclosed room.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second direction of polarization is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction of polarization.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the polarizing filter completely covers the at least one substantially transparent window.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the enclosed room is a conference room.
18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a network connected to the LCD or LED display.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the polarizing filter partially covers the at least one substantially transparent window.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the enclosed room is a conference room.