
I just saw an interesting product demo from a company called Ocularis Labs… Private Eye uses the webcam built into most laptops to track when you are looking at the screen. When your gaze leaves the screen, the display is automatically blurred or replaced with an image of your choice. Look back at the screen and the display is restored. If the software detects a face other than yours in the frame (meaning that someone is possibly ‘shoulder surfing’), the program pops up a “rear view mirror” showing you the offender (and tipping them off to the fact that you are aware of them). The software (XP/Vista only) costs $59.95 a seat for the full featured version – comparable with a hardware privacy display filter. Those filters tend to be bulky and annoying – this seems like a promising technology for road warriors and those who like to work in public places like libraries, Starbucks, airline lounges or airplanes. I am planning to get this into the lab at work and see how it works – will let you know how it goes.