Polarizing privacy system for use with a visual display terminal

A method of providing privacy comprising:

• positioning a first polarizing means proximate to and extending across at least a portion of a visual monitor included in a computer terminal, for selectively passing a first radiation from said visual monitor having a first polarization state;
• enclosing the visual monitor in a barrier assembly so as provide a user area within said barrier assembly for viewing the visual monitor;
• incorporating a window in the barrier assembly such that the user area is viewable from outside the barrier assembly;
• and
• providing a second polarizing means interposed proximate to and extending across the window for selectively passing a second radiation not emitted from the visual monitor and having a second polarization state different from said first polarization state, said second polarizing means being interposed between the user area and the outside of the barrier assembly.

An apparatus for providing privacy comprising:

• a computer terminal which includes a computer display, where the computer display includes a first polarizing means for selectively polarizing light emitted from the computer display according to a first polarization state;
• a barrier assembly which includes an enclosure within which the computer display is positioned and which defines a user area therein;
• and
• a second polarizing means incorporated into the barrier assembly which provides for selective transmission of light having a second polarization state so that said user area is viewable from outside the barrier structure, wherein said first polarizing means has a first axis of polarization and said second polarizing means has a second axis of polarization where said first axis of polarization is substantially orthogonal to said second axis of polarization.