Panasonic preps Wiimote-proof TV

Wii shall not be damaged

By James Sherwood • Get more from this author

18th February 2008 09:59 GMT

Panasonic has designed a plasma TV which it reckons will withstand the force of a fiercely flung Wii Remote.

Don't let go...

The TV’s display surface can absorb a hit packing up to four Joules of kinetic energy, thanks to a special transparent coating sprayed on the screen. For those without a physics background, a Joule is the energy expended by the force of one Newton moving one metre.

Panasonic’s designers clearly haven’t been told that Nintendo actually ships the Wii Remote with a strap to stop it flying out of your hand and hitting your telly during a heated game. However, you can’t fault Panasonic's marketing department for recognising a unique selling point.

An alternative Wii TV shield

The company isn’t the first to come up with a Wii-centric TV protection innovation, though. One Taiwanese manufacturer has already designed a specialist LCD TV Wii shield that likewise protects your telly from flying Wii Remotes.

The Wii shield is a little obtrusive - Panasonic's Wii-proof telly has the benefit that it's indistinguishable from any other flat-panel display.

In 2003, the US-based owner of a 42in Plasma TV suffered a nasty shock when his three-year-old son smashed up his TV’s display with a Wii Remote, because he didn’t win a game of Wii Sports Tennis.

Panasonic hasn't released any pricing and availability details for its Wii-proof TV yet.