The Naval Aviation Museum in Florida honours its donors with an impressive video wall display.
- Layout and sizing
Determine the target audience and specific use cases for the video wall. For example, will its focus be on relaying information that helps people do their jobs and require a grid layout, or is it to inspire visitors to the company, where an artistic layout would make more sense.
- Displays matter
There are multiple display options, and it pays to understand the upside and downsides of each:
- Consumer TVs: These can be attractive due to lower cost, but they generally have wider bezels than commercial displays, and a wider bottom bezel. The wider bottom bezel may not be a problem with a two-row video wall; however, it will be with those that are three rows or larger, or those installed in an artistic arrangement.
- Projectors: Blended projection uses a controller or processor to connect multiple front- or rear-display projectors to create a seamless video wall. This creates a canvas with no visible bezels. Unfortunately, projectors do not have the same image quality or brightness of liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) and will not work for every space and configuration. Projectors offered a better solution for larger, seamless display areas, but again, the affordability today of ultra-thin bezel displays and high-performing video wall controllers allow for the deployment of very large video walls (100-plus displays from a single computer) with seamless display areas and crisp image quality.
- Light-emitting diode (LED) video walls: This option is ideal for outdoor use where viewing is usually from a distance, and where brightness is important. However, they have a significant disadvantage in terms
of resolution and image quality. - LCD video walls: Commercial large-format displays are the preferred option for most video walls, and can feature zero, narrow, or ultra-narrow bezel. In most deployments, they provide the optimal combination of resolution, image quality, and cost.
- Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and microLED video walls: These are also options, but are much more expensive than LCDs.
Video walls will transform a space, but do the homework
When built and maintained well, video walls can be a powerful solution to improving productivity and communication within an organization, supporting a brand, and achieving other organizational goals. However, as with any technology investment, it is important to be clear on how the video wall will be used today and in the future, how many sources will be incorporated, where it will be located, and more. While it is difficult to capture the ROI of a video wall deployment, it is safe to say organizations that plan and execute well are likely to achieve better results with lower costs.
It is a good idea to look for a solution that offers the flexibility to adapt to future changes in one’s business. Basing the solution on standard technology (e.g., computer and network architecture) will allow for better and less expensive maintenance and troubleshooting, as well as provide the ability to display as many types and number of sources one may need.
John Marshall is CEO and board member at Userful, a leading provider of audio-visual over internet protocol (AV-over-IP) solutions for enhanced video communication. He has more than 25 years of experience building innovative, market-leading organizations. For more information, visit www.userful.com.
