While that holds true for human history, it’s also true regarding technology history. Today, flat-screen displays and super-fast computers are some of the most important components of today’s video walls. But it’s impossible to appreciate such technology fully until we know its origins.
Powerful Processors
During the latter half of the 1990s, computer processors became powerful enough to combine two types of images: those of the high-resolution computer and video variety. That included ones such as the Intel Pentium III. The grades of these processor different tremendously, but were definitely a major upgrade from the previous processors that powered video walls. While today’s computer processors make the ones in the 1990s look like snails, it’s important to note how significant the latter processors were in the history of video walls. The combination of high-resolution graphics and quality video were able to improve both the form and function of video walls.
LCD to LED to Flat Screens
Before the emergence of LED technology, LCD technology improved significantly. That included DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology, which giants in the industry gradually started to embrace. DLP is actually a trademark of Texas Instruments. How does it work? Extremely tiny mirrors are positioned onto a semiconductor chip–a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). While the overall quality of DLP was initially poor, it improved over time. Also, while DLP technology has its benefits, it isn’t without its drawbacks. Apparently there were enough that eventually led to the development of LED technology.
Within time, LED (Light-Emitting Diode) displays became a more innovative type of video displays. An LED is a light source that originates from semiconductors. When the diode is switched on, photons are released. This technology was an upgrade of LCD technology, creating video walls with crisper and clearer images.
However, once again the public began demanding better video wall technology. That included not only the quality of the display’s images, but also more economical displays. The industry’s solution was LCD flat screens. Although plasma flat-screen displays are also available, LCDs have basically become the technology of choice for video walls with gigantic video displays.
Big Benefits of Big LCD Video Walls
While projection video walls are still available, LCD video displays have become more popular. There are several reasons. One of the advances of conventional displays over projection systems is that the displays produce bright, high-quality, and high-resolution images. Such pictures are definitely worth a thousand words of praise. Yet another benefit of video walls comprised of video displays is that they can be adjusted easily. That’s certainly an advantage for applications such as presentations. Another benefit is that the space between video displays has become virtually negligible–typically about one-fourth of an inch.
What’s the Future?
Although the future of video display-based video walls isn’t entirely clear, such systems will certainly become crisper, more versatile, and generally more powerful. From CRT to LCD, and from LED back to LCD, the history of video walls indicates that their future looks bright (and clear).