Attributes of LCD Video Walls for Control Room Applications

Command centers and control rooms are the very core of mission critical operations. These operations need to be backed with the best technologies and mechanisms to allow for an uninterrupted flow of information. Large screen video is a vital component for communicating real time events and monitoring systems on a day-to-day basis.

With space being a constraint in many control rooms, an LCD video wall is a smart option. LCD video walls have a small footprint and can be mounted on the wall or enclosed in a freestanding cabinet specially designed for this purpose. These video walls can be used for security and network monitoring and displaying live footage during emergency and military operations anywhere in the world. When investing in a video wall, it is important to look for characteristics such as high resolution imaging, simplified performance, dependability, and low cost of ownership.

In the past LCD video walls were limited to displays with thick bezels that were distracting and unsightly when an image was enlarged across multiple displays. This problem is effectively addressed with the latest ultra-thin LCD displays designed specifically for professional applications. These new screens provide a relative seamless matrix that allows a single image to span the entire combined screen surface without the distracting bezels. To accompany these video walls are control room consoles where the operators are positioned so that they can interact with each other and react to what appears on the video wall. These control room consoles are especially designed for intensive use with the latest ergonomic features and laid out in such a fashion to improve work flow.

Another important attribute of an LCD video wall is that it should be able to grow concurrently with the scale of operations.

By partnering with a firm that offers control room consoles and video walls, you can choose from a variety of high-definition screen sizes and specifications. It is also important that non-technical personnel be able to operate these video walls, therefore adequate training is necessary. This is one of the reasons why one should choose an experienced firm that can offer simple solutions for complex requirements.

Here are some other defining attributes of an LCD video wall:

 

 

 

 

• An integrated video processor and sound system. The video processor is the “brain” that drives the system. Sound is critical to understanding real time events as they are displayed.
• Other supporting electronics include touch screen control panels, wireless mouse and keyboards, and advanced control software.
• The capability of the video processor to display a large variety of sources such as cameras, networks, individual computers, television and DVD player/recorders.
• The ability to combine many images at once on the displays with the ability to place and size them, then assign a hot key and save the layout for easy retrieval. Or, with the click of a mouse, enlarge selected images across the entire the video wall matrix.
• The capability to integrate the video wall into a larger plan for both video and matching control room console from a provider that understands how people and machines interact.

Modern LCD video walls are an accepted solution for today’s control rooms. There are a variety of designs and brands available, however choosing and integrator with experience in control room applications is critical to the overall success of the installation, training and support for the video wall after purchase.