Video walls are so useful for many crucial industries due to their versatility and impressive appearance, but what many of us tend to ignore or perhaps not even consider is how content is displayed on this technology.
Video walls don’t operate by magic and actually use a series of complex technologies to ensure that users can display their content in any position, size, quality, and from any source they want.
We know how important it is that you understand your technology before you buy. That’s why we’ve created this guide to the process of content display using video walls so you have a complete understanding of your video wall operation.
In this article, we discuss the definition of video walls, where we use them, why and what technology is used to display video wall content.
What are video walls?
Before we get started, let’s go through the basics. Video walls are a collection of screens or monitors that work together to display content. This can include a single surface displaying a single moving image, or the isolation of different monitors to display snippets of information to distribute a higher volume of information.
These video walls can vary in size, typically starting at 2×2 and working all the way up to 144 x 72. There are three main kinds of video walls, these include LCD, LED, and rear-projected cubes. Here’s a quick guide to each of these walls:
- LCD: LCD video walls consist of multiple LCD panels working in unison. These are typically the most popular video wall option due to their relatively cost-effective up-front price.
- LED: LED walls consist of panels that use LED lights. These produce bright and highly-detailed displays used in advertising or retail environments.
- Rear-projected cubes: Rear-projected cube walls are an integrated solution that displays the content through the rear of the wall. This reduces the negative impacts of shadows and improves overall video content.
Where do we use video walls?
One of the reasons why video walls are so popular is because they’re incredibly versatile. This means users are able to use video walls in a wide variety of locations, no matter the usage. If you’re not quite sure where you’d personally use a video wall, here’s a quick guide to the best places to use a multi-screen display:
Control rooms
Control rooms rely on the efficient distribution of information and constant view of operations. To help control room operators maintain a bird’s eye view of a business, they can use video walls to visualize every aspect of their business!
Take a police control room, for example. With a video wall, operators can display important emergency dispatch information from a single source in the same format for everyone! This means that emergency personnel have clearer instructions and can respond in a more efficient manner.
However, you don’t need to be in charge of an emergency response control room if you’re interested in a video wall. Important industries like surveillance, manufacturing and similar industries can benefit from being able to visualize many different aspects of their operations in a single location!
Education settings
Similar to control rooms, education settings rely on clear communication to teach important lessons, assign work and distribute important announcements.
Making use of video walls in education settings such as lecture theaters or assembly halls is a good way to transform a simple lesson into a high production value affair!
This boosts engagement and allows teaching staff to distribute a greater volume of information to a larger quantity of students.
Corporate business
Businesses can also make use of video walls for several things such as office communication or conferencing.
With a video wall, businesses can centralize their distribution of information by providing a single source to assign tasks, send out announcements or display live information.
This can transform an office environment and allows office managers to stop relying on cluttered email inboxes to distribute important announcements.
Why do we use video walls?
As we’ve mentioned, there are so many reasons to use a video wall. Below is a guide to some of the benefits you may experience if you choose to invest in a video wall:
Better communication
Communication is an important part of maintaining high productivity levels, but is also a central component of maintaining good working relationships and job fulfillment. Poor communication in business can look like relying on word-of-mouth, misinterpretation or sending messages through to flooded email inboxes. With a video wall, you can bypass this and display information in the exact same format, at the same time and from a single source. This means that you can minimize misinterpretation and ensure that all your employees have the information they need to complete tasks to the high-quality you expect at all times!
Versatility
We know that businesses are always on the move and you need flexible solutions that can provide you with multiple uses while providing value for money. The good news is that video walls can do this by providing you with a large range of uses.
That means you can use a video wall in your office one day, and transport it to your conference or convention the next!
Scalability
As a modern business, you’ll need an AV solution that is able to grow with you! One of the key benefits of video walls is that this solution can scale to your needs. Video wall technology and the size of your video wall can adapt to your needs at all times. So, you don’t need to worry about the size of your video wall impacting your operations if you begin to scale at pace!
How to display content with video walls
So, with all this in mind, how do you display content with a video wall? In short, to display content, you’ll need the correct equipment. Below, we’ve compiled a guide to the video wall technology you’ll need to display impressive content!
Use a video wall controller
What is a video wall controller? Well a video wall controller is a computer chassis that is capable of processing input signals from HDMI, SDI, DVI and LAN source. This control box has lots of outputs, allowing users to control several monitors of their video walls at once.
With the help of a video wall controller, users can also overlay windows and use a user interface that enables remote operations with the help of DXWallControl. One of the ways that video wall controllers display content is using a function known as layout recall.
This allows users to recall a previous video layout, allowing them to quickly set up their display and begin presenting to their audience.
Use a video wall matrix switcher
Matrix switchers are a must-have for video wall projects of all sizes. This provides users with an all-in-one service, allowing them to generate effects like fading and cropping as well as seamlessly switching between inputs. Similar to a controller, a matrix switcher also allows users to recall up to 64 different layouts. This technology is also highly modular, meaning that users can rely on a matrix switcher for all video wall sizes.
Use a video wall processor
Essentially, video wall processors are the brains behind a video wall project. This system is responsible for transforming video signals into displayable content.
Processors take input signals from media players, satellite sources and PC screens, and display them in any size regardless of the size of your monitor boundaries. With the help of a video wall processor, users can also mitigate the effects of harsh bezels, manage their resolution and facilitate collaborative working.
We hope you now understand how video walls operate after reading this complete guide.
