Behind the Technology: How Do Video Walls Display Content?

Behind the Technology: How Do Video Walls Display Content?

Video walls are at the cutting edge of technology and have revolutionized how we display content in presentations, work, and entertainment. But how much do you know about video walls and the technology behind the scenes?

If the answer is “not much”, then you’re in the right place. At DEXON, we ensure you have all the necessary information before investing in costly technology. To help you get the best deal and buy video wall technology with confidence, we’ve compiled this guide to all things video walls.

This article discusses what a video wall is, the technology at play, and some of the benefits you can experience if you decide to invest in video wall technology.

Ready?

What is a video wall?

Before we get started, it’s important to iron out the basics if you’re new to video wall technology. A video wall is a collection of screens that work together to display content. These screens can range in size, from 2×2 all the way to 144×72.

Essentially, operators can use these monitors to display one or more different types of content, allowing users to create one large viewing experience or display lots of information from a single space. Video display wall controllers are playing an important role in this as well, but we will talk about this later.

Three main types of video walls are popular in the AV industry. Here is a guide to three types of video wall technology:

• LCD panels: LCD panels are the most popular type of video wall made up of large LCD monitors. Popular for its economical up-front cost, this video wall is a fond choice for its scalability. However, large bezels and high operating costs can detract from the viewing experience.
• Rear projected cubes: Rear-projected cubes offer some of the most seamless viewing experiences. This technology integrates projection and display, meaning users get a lot more bang for their buck in terms of operation and display quality.
• LED: Made from LED lights, LED video walls are popular in retail and display environments that rely on bright and high-quality visuals. Known for their reliability, LED video walls are popular for advertising and mission-critical environments.

You might have seen a video wall in several locations without realizing it. Here is a quick guide to the places you might notice a video wall:

• Transport settings: Transport settings rely on the seamless flow of information. While this isn’t always simple, this is where video wall technology comes into its own. Video walls allow transport control room operators to display high volumes of information from a single place, meaning you don’t need to waste time looking in different places for all the information you need.
• Control rooms: Mission control settings such as emergency services control rooms are prime locations for video walls. With a video wall, you can distribute information such as location and delegate tasks from a single location, minimizing the risk of miscommunication.
• Offices: Office spaces are in a constant battle to better their communication. With a video wall, office managers can delegate tasks, display important updates and stop relying on email inboxes to distribute critical information central to high productivity.
• Sports stadiums: Anyone who has ever sat in the last row of seats in a sports stadium will tell you the value of video walls. Video walls allow that front-row experience by streaming live content from remote sources like cameras.

How do video walls display content?

Now that we have the basics out of the way let’s focus on the technology behind video walls. Video walls don’t just magically operate; there is a host of different technology that allows users to stream content from remote networks, scale their images and seamlessly switch to different sources.

To help you, here is a guide to all of the technology at play when operating a video wall:

Video wall processor

Video wall processors are a key player in video wall operation. This technology processes input signals to display directly onto your multi-screen video wall. Typically, this technology will process signals via HDMI cables from technology like satellite receivers, PCs and media players.

This acts as a control box, allowing users to dictate the size and position of content, regardless of video wall size.

With the help of a processor, you can also scale up and down and assign different user rights to operators, facilitating smooth video wall collaboration.

Video wall controller

A video display wall controller is a computer chassis with an operating system that can handle input and output signals. This technology receives input signals via HDMI, DVI, SDI and video sources, processing them and displaying them across a video wall.

Video wall controllers allow users to render large graphics desktop of Windows 10 operating system and display overlay windows from different input sources, displaying them in real-time and scaled to the user’s preference.

One of the best things about DEXON’s video wall controllers is that users can see a live preview of their input source, meaning they can quality control their content before it’s shown to the public. They can even do this from a remote location!

Video wall matrix switcher

A video wall matrix switcher truly does it all for most projects. This control box switches to different input signals, scales, crops, converts formats and frame rates for any output. A matrix switcher is versatile and flexible to video walls of any size.

Depending on the user’s preferences, users can manage matrix switchers from a local location via a keyboard, mouse and monitor, but also via remote sources with the help of a web browser with multiple operators.

You can create up to 64 different layouts, saving and recalling them for later use. This allows you to streamline your production process and display crucial content much faster than traditional means. Matrix switchers are a must for all demanding AV projects in constant operation.

That concludes your guide to all things video wall technology.

Rupali Gupta

Rupali Gupta is a blogger and professional writer who loves to write about technology and entertainment. Techzimo is one of her successful websites filled with great tech news, Know more about her on Youtube Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram