Now, LCD monitors watch you

(Credit: Eizo)

Eizo Nanao has announced the inclusion of an "EcoView Sense" feature into its 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 cutout 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?

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.

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-degree 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 monitors 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.

Check out CNET's new Monitor Green Guide for more information on all things green...and monitors.

[xhable]

Sounded like big brother to start with :p

[Lumiseon]

lol, guess I'm not the only one who that of that

[karpenterskids]

This is a GREAT feature!
It's about time, too...

I, too, will be sharpening my ninja skills.

[Seeker1949]

Ok. So the Feds. have effectively taken over the banks, auto manufactures. They are moving in on General Electric and other power companies. The new Verizon phones have GPS features which can be turned on without the consumers knowledge or consent via Federal command.... Yeah we need this.... I think everything is coming to together rather well don't you? I like it !

[zyxxy]

If you turn the phone off, the GPS is definitely off as well.

[Staszek]

@zyxxy

The government and police agencies can turn your phone on even if its off. They can listen to you talking to yourself by turning the mic on.

The only way around this is to remove the battery.

In the Scott Peterson case, law enforcement could hear hm talking to himself as he was listening to his voicemails.

[viper396]

Seeker1949 , do you actually have proof of this? Which phones? And why is it only Verizon? Seems you and Staszek have watched one too many movies. Your paranoia and complete lack of common sense has clouded your judgement.

[Hunnter2k3]

What happens when you place a cardboard cut-out onto a fan and place that in front of it?

We shall see who will win, Sir EV2303W.

[darfjono]

Are you John Connor?

[MajorSlax]

Ahaaaaaa !!! I love that you have the mind of a 10-year old, I want to be a ninja too :D

[Th3T3ch]

In Russia, screen watch you!

[cpk86]

FOR THE MOTHERLAND!!!!!

[Alpha___13]

God dammit! I was hoping I'd be the first one to post that heh.

[honkerdown]

I would like to see someone come out with a "screen saver" application that would simply use a web cam to decide if someone is not sitting in front of the computer. Is that really that hard?

[darfjono]

I can't wait until one of these breaks while you're sitting right in front of it and decides that you no longer count as "something in front of me"

[Dalkorian]

I imagine you could get it's attention back by waving your arms over your head like you do when the motion sensor in the front yard doesn't see you anymore and turns off the yard lights.
;-)

Hey, it's a conspiracy to get pasty computer geeks to get some exercise! "You aren't moving enough, so I'm turning off the monitor."

[indiemixer]

For a second I thought the article would be about a webcam inside of a monitor.

[pjscullion]

This would be great for gaming or pr0n, or maybe a school's computer lab, but I only see another feature that would have to be disabled for watching movies or working. I mean, I sit pretty still while watching video, or walk away to find a more comfortable chair. I suppose I could build a very tiny treadmill for my hamster to run on in front of the sensor a la The Incredible Machine... I honestly don't see myself using this feature at all. Sorry. Hope they aren't charging extra for this Ultra-Extreme-Super-Cool-Motion-Sensing-Eco-Saving-Sensor.

Though I'm addicted to my iPod's ambient light sensor. Thing is amazing!

[docster87]

This is an excellent point. I don't have a TV, all of my movie watching is done off my computer. I would hate it if the monitor shut down just because I was far away, like in my comfy chair rather than the desk chair. There are good places for such tech, like schools, libraries, offices... but at home - not quite sure I would want that "feature".

[Shanghai Kid]

The thing is though, if you want to be as eco as possible you shouldn't buy this monitor and just turn off your monitor the good ol' fashion way; by hand.

[jimnms]

This is nothing new. A friend of mine bought an LCD way back before LCD's became popular, but were still very expensive. It was only 12 or 13 inches, and had a huge brick of an external power supply. It had a sensor that would detect if you were sitting in front of it and turn the display off after 30 seconds if you got up and left.

[play7]

"by xhable April 27, 2009 5:25 AM PDT
Sounded like big brother to start with :p"

I thought so too. Buthis is typical cnet writers tricky wayt to gewt you to read their BS.

[illegallydead]

As interesting as this feature is, I doubt that many of you will ever get a monitor like this. Most Eizo's are stupid expensive because they are d*mn fine monitors, like picture-perfect kind of displays.

As cool as it sounds, you will have to be one very well off 10-year-old to actually get a monitor with this feature...

[digitallcd]

i prefer digital LCD because they consume less energy, less space and less harmful for your eyes too.
http://VintageDigitalWatches.com