Technology is growing increasingly complex in a bid to make our lives easier and audio visual tech developments are no exception. Take the case of a video wall. You’ve definitely seen them before either on television or in person and they have many applications but what exactly are they for? How customizable are they and most importantly, what job will they do for your business?
Whether for artistic reasons, to enhance the ambiance of your business space or provide branding and other marketing information or data to your clients, visitors or the public, video walls are an excellent way to create a positive impact in a space and get everyone’s attention on whatever information or imagery you want to display. They are also applicable to a command centre setting and can be an invaluable tool in keeping your team informed on a number of issues. Since a video wall is essentially a grouping of display screens, they can be used to create one whole image or dissected into different parts so multiple images can be seen on each individual screen.
Such digital signage can also include streaming media or a live event: Think about the Wimbledon tennis tournament in England. Thousands of fans not lucky enough to get seats inside to view the action on the courts can stay and watch it live outside the arenas via a video wall on a grassy hill. They still feel part of the action and the energy of the annual event that is watched around the world.
Understanding What to Look For in a Video Wall
It is so important to understand the differences in the screens available on the market. Being walked through your options with a consulting and design team will make things less overwhelming by helping you decide how to make the most of your investment. Meantime you can study up right now. After all, the screens comprise the body of your video wall so you want to make sure you choose the right one for your company’s specific needs and budget.
LCD Video Wall
Visual performance is a critical element in a video wall display and LCD provides some of the highest total resolution of all the technologies available on the market. High pixel density means a vividly detailed image that creates less eye fatigue for viewers and that keeps them looking longer at your digital signage. LCD screens also tend to be preferred for their brightness and ability to adjust the brightness levels, especially in spaces where there is an abundance of ambient light. If you need a video wall for a large control room, LCDs are known to offer some of the widest viewing angles which is ideal in the case of very large spaces when people need a clear view of the wall.
LED Video Wall
You are probably very familiar with LED lightbulbs of various sorts in your home and office and if being eco-friendly is a major sticking point for you, an LED video wall may be what you need. They are energy efficient, compact, super lightweight and offer a great picture quality that can be viewed from any distance or angle without any colour or picture distortions. They also get the edge when a bezel-free display is desired and tend to be used on curved walls and by broadcast media for on-camera background displays thanks to colour and luminance qualities.
It’s also important to know the role of a video wall processor. Generally speaking, they are meant to split the images on a screen. So basically, your video wall can have one solid image or you can use a video wall controller/processor to divide up the images so they can be displayed individually on each screen. The controllers are broken down into two groups; one that is hardware based and the other is software based. While the hardware based video wall processor offers reliability and high performance, a software based controller allows you to use it in VOIP applications and to launch maps and other informational tools.
If it is for informational or advertising purposes, once you have your video wall installed and looking magnificent, a certified technical team will hold a training session for you and your employees to help you understand how your new display system works and of course, answer any questions you may have. It’s pretty technical stuff so don’t be afraid to speak up!