Flat screen displays are excellent for small to medium sized rooms, distributed TV content and digital signage. New technology allows some flat screens to display autostereoscopic (no need to wear special glasses) 3D images that look fantastic in any area where maximum impact is wanted (AvexiA can also assist with 3D content creation).

Image Size: – AvexiA often see plasma and LCD screens installed in areas where they are too small for the viewing distances involved (where projector technology would be better employed). Therefore, we provide the following guidance on viewing distances:

Where the application includes standard PC presentations from a Windows based PC running XGA (1,024 x 768) resolution or WXGA, the longest viewing distance should not exceed 6 times the image height (i.e. using a 50” diagonal screen would mean the viewing distance should not exceed 3.7M ). If the resolution is increased to SXGA (1,280 x 1,024) the viewing distance should not exceed 4.5 times the image height (using the same 50” diagonal screen example, that would mean 2.8M is the maximum viewing distance).

Plasma Screens
Plasma screens provide very good image quality for standard video signals and are therefore well suited for videoconferencing or any form of TV signal. In addition, the larger plasma screens provide better value for money over other technologies.

Commercial plasma screens are available in sizes of; 42”, 50”, 60”, 103” and 150” (diagonal).

Advantages of plasma screens: Image quality and cost (larger panels are still considerably more expensive than using projectors).
Disadvantages of plasma screens: Plasma screens can burn-in an image if a static image is left on and also use more power than LCD technology.

LCD Screens
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens are excellent for Data (PC) images and the better quality LCD screens are also good for video signals. However, care needs to be taken since baseband video can look very poor, as can fast moving objects, which can have a ‘ghosting’ effect. AvexiA will recommend appropriate screens for any given application.

Commercial LCD screens are available from portable sizes and: 32”, 37”, 40”, 46”, 52”, 57”, 65”, 70” and 102” (diagonal).

Advantages of LCD screens: Image quality for data and HD video, no image burn-in issues, lower running costs.

Disadvantages of LCD screens: Standard video signals can look very poor quality and the price is generally higher than alternative plasma screen technology.

LED Screens
LED screens (walls) are excellent for presentations or digital signage applications that need to take place in very brightly lit areas, such as atriums etc.

The specification is generally expressed with a ‘pixel pitch’ (distance between pixels) and the lower the number, the more suited this will be for indoor use (many LED screens are only suitable for outside use due to the ‘size’ of the pixel pitch). However, resolution has improved enormously and several items provide stunning indoor alternatives to other technologies.

Advantages of LED screens: Very bright and image sizes are almost limitless.

Disadvantages of LED screens: Not suitable for close viewing and cost. They are also very heavy.