On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

Are your customers sitting in an incorrect position while using their PCs? Maybe they will want to get the Philips ErgoSensor Monitor, a 24" LCD display with sensors checking user posture.

The display uses a built-in CMOS sensor and DigitalOptics software to check the user's neck angle and distance while sitting in front of the screen by measuring inter-pupillary distance (the distance of the 2 pupils) from the monitor.

After measuring, the system then gives advice on sitting in an ergonomic position, complete with tips on optimal viewing distances, ergonomic neck angles and even time break advice.

It even caters for your more eco-conscious customers-- the monitor automatically powers down if no one is present in front of it, construction is in 65% recycled plastics, the housing is PVC-BFR free and a 0-watt hard switch cuts power off completely.

Go Philips ErgoSensor Monitor

Google is really working on augmented reality (AR) glasses-- the company just revealed Project Glass, a futuristic visor providing a Terminator-style augmented view of the world.

A fancy demo video shows the point of view of someone wearing the glasses, showing a variety of graphical overlays (weather, maps, text messages) and smartphone functionality (social network integration, voice messaging, video conferencing).

On the other hand concept designs Google shows feature what looks like an empty set of sleek metal frames with small rectangular display perching over the right eye-- unlike earlier reports of prototypes looking like a pair of Oakley Thumps sunglasses.

The British version of the Roku player celebrates a milestone-- the internet-connected STB now offers over 100 video, music and casual game channels following its January 2012 launch.

The Roku launched in the UK and Ireland with 40 channels, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, FoxNews.com and Euronews.

The company hopes to add even more channels in the future before bringing over the one-new-channel-per-day model available in the USA.

Two Roku players are available in the UK-- the low-cost Roku LT and game-capable Roku 2 XS. No word is yet available on the STB launching in other European territories though.

Go Roku UK

According to Nielsen, the use of tablets and smartphones while watching TV is becoming increasingly common, especially among viewers based in the UK.

Nielsen held a Q4 2011 survey tracking behavior patterns in the UK, Germany, Italy and the US.

The analyst says 80% of tablet and 78% of smartphone owners in the UK use their devices while watching TV at least once during a 30-day testing period-- with 24% using their devices several times a day.

On the other hand German and Italian TV viewing is more serious business-- 29% of participants in both countries never dual-view tablets and TVs together. The same goes for 35% of Germans and 34% of Italians when it comes to smartphones.

The final revelation on viewers in the USA being easily distracted might not be too much of a surprise... 88% of American tablet and 86% of smartphone owners prefer to multi-task (at least once during the 30-day period).

In all participant countries, the most frequent mobile device activity is checking emails during either advert breaks or shows. Nielsen says device users also "engage with content relate to the TV," checking show- or advert-related information.

Either way, it is heartening to know Europeans have (relatively) longer attention spans than Americans do, right?

Go Double-Vision: Global Trends in Tablet and Smartphone Use While Watching TV (Nielsen)