Does the LCD Displays in Video Wall Systems Really Matter
Video wall systems seem to be everywhere. What once was a rarity can now be found at trade shows, airports, command and control rooms, emergency operating centers, and in boardrooms across the globe. One of the most common questions surrounding video wall systems is how much the display device technology matters. Many companies consider contacting their local home electronics reseller to purchase inexpensive consumer LCD displays. While this seems to make sense, there are actually a variety of problems associated with using less expensive LCD displays compared to purpose-built LCD displays.
The first problem is that direct view LCD's have a border around each one. As a result, when they are tiled together to create the array there are significant gaps in the overall image. This makes it the resulting image extremely unattractive and difficult to look at. As a result, the overall appearance of the completed project will be noticeably distorted. Purposes built LCD displays are designed to be used in video wall systems without noticeable gaps.
Another problem with using consumer grade LCDs is that they have very short production lifecycles. The average life cycle is often less than a year. Additionally, it is less expensive to buy a new consumer grade LCD than repair a broken one which means there are few service parts available. In video wall systems, this is problematic because when a single new consumer grade LCD is added to the array it will not have the same optical characteristics as the rest. As a result, the entire array would need to be replaced every time a single LCD display fails. With purpose built LCD displays this is much less of an issue because they are designed to last significantly longer.
A long-term problem with using consumer LCDs is the lack of color and geometry adjustments. The human eye is very sensitive to color brightness and hue difference. Since consumer LCDs were not made for use in wall video systems, it is almost impossible to adjust each screen to match the neighboring screen. This becomes an even more pronounced issue as the screens age.
Using purpose built screens for video wall systems provide additional benefits as well. One of the most significant benefits is the ability to do repairs. Another benefit is the displays built for video wall systems remain cooler than consumer LCDs which extends their lifespan.
When setting up video wall systems, opting to save money in the short term by purchasing consumer LCDs comes with significant drawbacks. Utilizing purpose built displays ensures the video wall systems always look great, are easy to maintain, and provide the best possible image.
The first problem is that direct view LCD's have a border around each one. As a result, when they are tiled together to create the array there are significant gaps in the overall image. This makes it the resulting image extremely unattractive and difficult to look at. As a result, the overall appearance of the completed project will be noticeably distorted. Purposes built LCD displays are designed to be used in video wall systems without noticeable gaps.
Another problem with using consumer grade LCDs is that they have very short production lifecycles. The average life cycle is often less than a year. Additionally, it is less expensive to buy a new consumer grade LCD than repair a broken one which means there are few service parts available. In video wall systems, this is problematic because when a single new consumer grade LCD is added to the array it will not have the same optical characteristics as the rest. As a result, the entire array would need to be replaced every time a single LCD display fails. With purpose built LCD displays this is much less of an issue because they are designed to last significantly longer.
A long-term problem with using consumer LCDs is the lack of color and geometry adjustments. The human eye is very sensitive to color brightness and hue difference. Since consumer LCDs were not made for use in wall video systems, it is almost impossible to adjust each screen to match the neighboring screen. This becomes an even more pronounced issue as the screens age.
Using purpose built screens for video wall systems provide additional benefits as well. One of the most significant benefits is the ability to do repairs. Another benefit is the displays built for video wall systems remain cooler than consumer LCDs which extends their lifespan.
When setting up video wall systems, opting to save money in the short term by purchasing consumer LCDs comes with significant drawbacks. Utilizing purpose built displays ensures the video wall systems always look great, are easy to maintain, and provide the best possible image.
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