NEC announces LCDs with switchable viewing angles

One big issue that LCDs have faced from the very beginning is viewing angle. Whether it is a laptop display or desktop LCD, viewing angle is a bone of contention both ways. Some want it small, some want it large.

There's easy arguments either direction, too. If you're often sitting above or below your LCD or plan on showing something on your screen to others, you might be frustrated when someone standing just two inches to the left sees nothing but a black screen. On the other hand, if you're on an airplane and would rather not the person next to you peek over your shoulder, a microscopic viewing angle is just what you want. For the most part, however, you can't have it both ways.

NEC is aiming to change that. We're hearing now about LCDs being developed that will have customizable viewing angles. On top of being able to adjust the viewing angle, apparently the image quality will not lessen by increasing it, something that other displays can suffer from. While details are light, they reveal that the LCD lets you toggle between a “straight” lighting system to a diffused lighting system. The LCDs are set to be demoed this year, but no official manufacturing or release dates are mentioned. You can read the full press release at NEC's site.