LCD Lobby Displays
Dec 2, 2009 12:00 PM,
By Jay Ankeney
The latest LCD options incorporate robust and interactive feature sets.
Akira ALM46Z1
While digital signage screens are charged with vying for the fickle attention of by passers-by, a lobby display is positioned to provide helpful information to people who actually need to see it. Whether welcoming people to hotel registration desks, enabling the self-serve purchase of tickets at a theater, or providing the day’s conference schedule in a convention center, lobby displays are usually greeted with smiles by those who seek them out.
Lobby displays are becoming increasingly interactive with a growing range of touchscreen technologies including infrared, optical, capacitive, projected capacitive touch (PCT), dispersive signal technology (DST), or surface acoustic wave (SAW). These enable lobby displays to answer specific questions from those who need guidance. Lobby display installations are also expanding their scope into broad multi¬panel videowalls with dynamically shrinking bezels separating each screen while hugging the surfaces they are mounted on with ever narrower designs. Today’s lobby screens are also being required to run on far less energy than before.
In addition, lobby displays often need to be able to sit in either portrait or landscape orientation, and sometimes even have redundant power supplies so they can run around the clock. This may also bring with it the requirement for increased venting or even a cooling system. Depending on deployment, a 46in. screen size is considered optimal for most lobby displays, although even screens in the 20in.-to-30in. range often qualify depending on location; some kind of built-in protection features are also needed to keep preying hands from screen surface and adjustment controls. Because of all these higher capabilities and expectations, lobby displays are housed in metal enclosures and usually qualify for a three-year warranty instead of your consumer 90-day to one-year plan.
Lobby displays that will be used in a videowall installation, need to have some internal software that spreads the content across neighboring screens as well as an ultrathin bezel.
Most critically, lobby displays frequently need more input options than average. Depending on its purpose, a lobby display may need one or multiple HDMI inputs, the VGA jack to take in the output of a computer, or the ability to connect to various kinds of internal cable networks or go worldwide with Internet protocols. They also carry a slot for memory cards or USB sticks that can feed localized, customized content.
The Digital Out Of the Home (DOOH) segment of the video presentation market is enjoying robust growth. Although the lobby display market segment is too specific to be tracked accurately by itself, DisplaySearch—a worldwide leader in display market research—has gathered overall statistics for DOOH commercial displays in general measuring 26in. and larger. DisplaySearch predicts that by the end of 2009 a little more than 1 million DOOH LCD displays will have been shipped worldwide, and a little less than 7 million units by 2015.
Here are some of the LCD monitors being offered by major companies for lobby display installations.
AOC M92
At next month’s CES, AOC will be showing an important new approach for LCD lobby displays that focuses on expanded options for content processing and delivery. The company’s M92, a 19in., 16:9 LCD display with a fully integrated Intel Atom N270 processor, built-in webcam, and loudspeakers, rides a new wave of PC production that emphasizes accessibility, efficiency, and style. The M92 allows the user to perform Internet functions as well as standard office applications without the need of a bulky tower or cumbersome wires. It comes out of the box fully loaded with useful peripherals including wireless LAN, a four-in-one memory card reader, four USB ports, and a Super Multi DVD drive. The Intel Atom processor requires minimal power, and even when fully operational, it only requires 35W of power, earning an EPA Energy Star rating by requiring almost 80 percent less power than a traditional PC.
Introduced two months ago, the 46in. ALM46Z1 LCD display from Akira focuses on image with a contrast ratio of 3000:1 and a 1366×768 native resolution. It has ultraslim bezels (2.4mm on the right/bottom and 4.3mm on the left/top) to give the appearance of a continuous image across a matrix of displays up to 16×16 in size. A removable electronic compartment lets you service its electronic parts without dismantling its swing-out wall mount, and its patent-pending technologies include the open-frame design that allows for sufficient airflow without fans. Unique to Akira’s swing-out wall mount, the Auto Alignment Parking System for the ALM46Z1 LDC display provides reference poles for precise alignment during installation, and the Stay Cool Air Duct System provides two separate ducts for airflow, taking advantage of the chimney effect with added units in a matrix. The ALM46Z1 has an optional autocolor matching feature to present a uniform image across all screens.
LCD Lobby Displays
Dec 2, 2009 12:00 PM,
By Jay Ankeney
The latest LCD options incorporate robust and interactive feature sets.
The XP-2401HD from CoolTouch Monitors is a promising option for ambient light conditions thanks to its published 450 nits of brightness and a 700:1 contrast ratio. As a standalone multiformat, multimedia monitor, the CoolTouch XP-2401HD includes two SD/HD-SDI inputs with one reclocked output, one DVI/VGA input (DVI+Gender 15-pin), three composite video (shared BNCs for S-Video/component RGB/YPbPr) inputs, and one stereo pair of analog audio connectors. The de-embedded audio input feeds the built-in loudspeakers that can be used as a confidence monitor, and its unique tabletop stand allows the XP-2401HD to tilt up to 60 degrees.
JVC GD-32X1
Offering one of the thinnest monitors for lobby display installations, JVC unveiled its GD-32X1 32in. super-slim flatpanel HD monitor at September’s DV Expo. JVC emphasizes an original LED edge-lighting system that delivers uniform brightness and light efficiency with a 178-degree viewing angle. It features full 1920×1080 resolution with a 4000:1 contrast ratio, and it provides 90 percent coverage of Adobe RGB’s wide color space. The display’s high-speed Intelligent Gamma Adjustment is designed to improve contrast, particularly in scenes with light and dark areas. The Intelligent Color Management picture engine analyzes color distribution in each frame of the input signal in realtime for precise processing that results in images with more realistic colors and textures, according to JVC. Its larger brother, the GD-42X1, is a wide-gamut 42in. LCD monitor that features a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 12-bit per color processor (giving you 36-bit over RGB), and 52 manual picture adjustment properties.
LG M4714T-BA
LG Electronics has a diverse product line to engage lobby audiences and communicate messages with touch, stretch, and Triple View monitors such as its 47in. M4714T-BA wayfinding touchscreen that allows patrons to pick and choose their destination or identify their current location thanks to built-in 3M Dispersive Signal Touch (DST) integrated technology. The narrow 36mm bezel ensures that the LCD display fits seamlessly into any environment in either portrait or landscape mode. In addition, LG’s M4714V Triple View LCD monitor delivers a revolution in digital signage since the monitor connects customers with up to three different images or advertisements based upon their angle of view to the monitor. Using a parallax barrier, the light passage of the left, right, and center pixels is divided, allowing the M4714V to display three different images, each covering approximately a 50-degree viewing angle. Finally, LG’s sleek 720p 42in. class and full HD 1080p 47in. LCD monitors (models M4212C-BA and M4714C-BA) offer display options in portrait and landscape modes and split zoom capabilities for videowall applications up to a maximum of 5×5.
NEC MultiSync X461UN
NEC claims its 46in. MultiSync X461UN is going to revolutionize the way LCD videowalls are perceived because its ultranarrow bezel allows for a screen-to-screen distance of only 7.3mm. The X461UN can be deployed in videowall matrices of up to 10×10 (100 displays), creating a total surface area of approximately 645 square feet. It offers brightness of 700cd/m2 and typical contrast ratio of 3000:1 while putting out a 1360×768 WXGA native resolution in true 16:9 aspect ratio. The display features Ethernet monitor and control, a commercial-grade sealed panel, an advanced cooling system for 24/7 operation, and a multilevel programmable zoom. For areas with lots of ambient light, NEC offers its 46in. MultiSync X461HB that shines out 1500 candelas, which is 130 percent brighter than NEC’s previous generation display, yet consumes only 37 percent more power. An optional Windows XP Pro single-board computer processes digital signage content and eliminates the need for an external PC, cabling, mounting, and power supply.
LCD Lobby Displays
Dec 2, 2009 12:00 PM,
By Jay Ankeney
The latest LCD options incorporate robust and interactive feature sets.
Panasonic TH-32LR11UK
Panasonic has a new 32in. LCD hotel lobby display, the TH-32LR11UK, that combines impressive image quality with a sleek black cabinet design and the flexibility of three terminal board slots concealed in the back of the display panel. It has up to 4000:1 contrast ratio, 1366×768 native resolution, and a specially designed, multifunction connection slot concealed in the back of the display that supports multiple in-hotel TV/PC/video-on-demand systems. The included pedestal stand rotates a full 20 degrees to accommodate the many possible viewing angles required in guest rooms. For convenience, it also offers an Initial Input setting that allows you to display a certain source each time the power is turned on.
Planar Clarity Matrix
Last June, Planar introduced its Clarity Matrix LCD videowall system by combining streamlined, narrow-bezel LCD panels, a unique mounting system, centralized outboard electronics, and simplified configuration and management software. The Clarity Matrix videowall incorporates 46in. commercial grade 700-nit LCD panels that tile together with a 7.3mm image-to-image gap and a unique LCD blade module that weighs less, generates less heat, aligns precisely, services easily, and is less susceptible to in-wall failures compared to traditional LCD displays. It incorporates Clarity Big Picture Plus built-in processing, which allows single sources to scale proportionally across all or a portion of the displays in the videowall.
Samsung 70in. Digital Information Display (DID)
In November, Samsung announced that it had developed a 70in. diagonal, 2000-nit LCD digital signage panel that is the brightest panel in the world to be mass produced. The new Samsung super-bright Digital Information Display (DID) panel generates four times the brightness of a typical LCD TV today, and it comes with a unique brightness control feature that allows outdoor advertisers to lower the brightness level at night to the level of a conventional HDTV. Using local dimming LED technology, Samsung’s DID LCD panel mitigates its added power consumption by continually adjusting picture brightness in precise localized increments.
Samsung has also begun producing an economical line of digital information displays for indoor applications intended to be installed where round-the-clock use isn’t needed. The new Samsung line is available in 32in., 40in., 46in., and 52in. sizes and comes with an 18-month warranty. Samsung’s new high-quality, low-end LCD line is cost-competitive with consumer televisions, yet features a design specifically suited for commercial applications.
Sanyo CE52SR1
If you need to deal with tough weather conditions in an outdoor entry way or atrium, Sanyo would recommend its new 52in. CE52SR1, the company’s second-generation LCD waterproof monitor integrating Sanyo’s revolutionary sun-readable LCD panel, marine-grade construction, and Ingress Protection 66 rating. Sanyo’s CE52SR1’s frame and cabinet are constructed from anodized aluminum and were designed with a “no holes” ventilation system so the LCD monitor stays cool while being protected from dust and weather conditions. With 1920×1080 resolution and a 176-degree viewing angle (vertical/horizontal), the CE52SR1 offers the ability to combine up to 25 units (maximum 5×5 configuration) from a single input signal, making it even more suitable for public displays. In addition, the CE52SR1 can be fitted with Sanyo’s PJ-Net Organizer (POA-LN01) so that this large, outdoor monitor can be controlled via a web browser.
LCD Lobby Displays
Dec 2, 2009 12:00 PM,
By Jay Ankeney
The latest LCD options incorporate robust and interactive feature sets.
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Sony’s two newest LCD full HD (1080p) displays are the 42in. FWD-S42H1 and 47in. FWD-S47H1, designed for commercial installations. For lobby signage applications, each has a higher brightness than previous versions, typically 700cd/m2 at 1000:1 contrast ratio, with a brightness boost setting for even brighter images, and the displays are specially designed to accommodate Sony’s HD player, model VSP-NS7. Users can remotely control and manage the displays from a central location, with firmware upgrades available over a local area network. Three types of screensavers are available: standby, which is activated while the backlight is off; all-white; and sweep. They automatically detect use in landscape or portrait mode, and illuminate a logo in the appropriate orientation. Invisible loudspeakers, rear control buttons, and a slim bezel design allow the displays to easily blend into the décor of any setting.
Toshiba Regza ZV650
The new ClearScan 240 technology in Toshiba’s Regza ZV650 LCD display combines 120 frames per second with advanced Backlight Scanning Technology to create a 240Hz effect. This new system also helps the ZV650 series attain its high 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, combining amazing picture clarity and enhanced picture depth. To make connecting source devices simple and flexible, Toshiba’s ZV650 incorporates an expanded array of connectivity features including a USB port for playback of digital video, audio and picture files, an SD card slot for playback of digital picture files by simply taking the SD card from the camera and inserting it into the TV, four HDMI inputs with InstaPort for faster switching, and Regza-Link for two-way device control. The ZV650 series also features an IR pass-through port to control source devices that may be hidden in a cabinet or closet, and a high-resolution PC input that allows you to use the TV as a big-screen PC monitor for multimedia or gaming.
ViewSonic CD4230
ViewSonic’s 42in. CD4230 LCD display that is appropriate for lobby installation features a 14mm bezel, 500cd/m2 brightness at a 2500:1 contrast ratio, and a fast 8 millisecond response time that delivers blur-free scrolling text or video. It also has HDMI and VGA inputs, and the DVI and RS-232 inputs/outputs on the CD4230 allow you to daisy-chain multiple displays into your network and still control each display individually. For many customers, ViewSonic has found the TV equivalent of the CD4230, the N4285p, can be a cost-efficient alternative so ViewSonic gives it a one-year warranty just like the commercial model. The N4285p has 500-nits brightness, a contrast ratio of 2000:1, and plug-and-play connectivity of two HDMI inputs for HD set-top boxes, standard and HD DVDs, game consoles, Blu-ray Discs—all accompanied by 20W Dolby Digital stereo sound.
The 42in. D42FMP1 LCD display monitor from Westinghouse Digital Electronics showcases images and content in landscape and portrait modes and features Westinghouse Digital’s 1080Pure for 1080p resolution out of all HD connectors. Its DayBright technology allows for high-contrast viewing both during the day and night, and the D42FMP1 provides a multitude of input connectors including RS-232 in and out, DVI and VGA, S-Video, component, and composite. Westinghouse Digital’s D42FMP1 LCD display monitor’s component inputs can easily be daisy-chained with other displays via specially-designed cables that eliminate the need for splitters or the unsightly long cables usually needed to hook up DVD players or related devices, and its RS-232 inputs can also be daisy-chained to other displays so that multiple units can be controlled from one PC source.
