When you say digital signage you often think of traditional signage displays and while these displays come in many different sizes, perhaps it's not enough. Perhaps you're dreaming of an impressive video wall. Well, the time for dreaming is over. Now it's time to act and what better way to begin than by learning more about video walls. Today's blog is all about understanding the basics. By reading more you'll discover:
What are video walls and when should you consider purchasing one?
A video wall is a large-scale display solution created by combining multiple individual display screens, such as LCD or LED panels, to form a single, large, and cohesive display surface. These screens are tiled together seamlessly to display high-resolution images, videos, or animations across the entire wall, offering an impressive and immersive visual experience. If you'd like to understand more about which options of video walls are out there, check out this blog. To sum it up, there are three options to make your dream wall come true: the massive traditional wall, an informal wall, or the "art wall".
Video walls are commonly used in various settings, such as control rooms, retail stores, conference rooms, airports, public spaces, and advertising venues. They can be used for digital signage, information dissemination, advertising, surveillance, and entertainment purposes. Video walls are known for their high brightness, large size, and ability to display content across multiple screens simultaneously, making them an effective and eye-catching communication tool.
Before investing in a video wall, consider factors such as budget, space availability, technical requirements, and content management. Consulting with an expert in the field can help you assess your specific needs and determine if a video wall is the right solution for your situation. If you'd like to know more about how to successfully introduce digital signage into your company, have a look at our blog post covering this topic.
LED walls vs video walls – a quick word
The terms "LED walls" and "video walls" are sometimes used interchangeably, but they refer to different display technologies. Here's a breakdown of the key differences between LED walls and video walls.
The first and perhaps most important diction between the two is that the display technology used is different. LED walls are built using LED (Light Emitting Diode) panels, where each pixel consists of individual red, green, and blue LEDs. The panels are assembled together to create a seamless and large-scale display surface. Whereas video walls cover a more general term and can refer to a large-scale display created by combining multiple individual screens, such as LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), LED, or even projection technology. These screens are tiled together to form a single, cohesive display surface.
Another important distinction to be made is regarding image quality and resolution. LED walls offer high brightness, wide viewing angles, and deep contrast levels, making them suitable for outdoor and large-scale installations. The resolution of an LED wall depends on the pixel pitch (the distance between individual LEDs), which can vary across different products. Smaller pixel pitches result in higher resolution and better image quality.
Regarding video walls, the image quality and resolution of a video wall depend on the underlying display technology (LCD, LED, or projection) and the specifications of the individual screens used. LCD video walls typically have higher resolution and smaller bezels, making them suitable for indoor and close-viewing applications.
In a nutshell, the main difference between LED walls and video walls lies in the display technology used. LED walls are a specific type of video wall that uses LED panels, while video walls can be created using various display technologies, including LCD, LED, or projection systems. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on factors like the intended application, budget, and installation requirements.
For more information about the different types of displays out there that are compatible with MagicINFO, consider reading this article in which we discuss more about this topic.
Benefits of having a video wall installed
Here at MagicInfo Services by ScreenCom, we do not provide hardware installation services. However, we do have extensive knowledge and experience working with any type of signage display, including video walls. If you'd like to get an idea about how multiple devices can be turned into a video wall, below you will find a short YouTube video about how to install a video wall with a daisy chain. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel if you haven't already done so. We regularly upload content showing how to use MagicINFO to make the most out of your digital signage projects. If you're interested in learning how to configure your video wall, check out our blog covering this topic.
Video walls are easily scalable turning into one immersive display
Now let's talk about the biggest benefit of having a video wall installed: the sleek look and feel. The latest technology developed by Samsung allows anyone choosing their hardware solutions is able to scale their video wall size up to 5x5, meaning up to 25 displays can be connected using simple daisy chain to create the world's first UHD video wall. Pretty impressive, no?
On top of all of this, the displays have UHD for an up-close immersive experience. Thanks to Samsung Color Expert technology, factory calibration is done to ensure there are no inconsistencies in color, maintaining the high quality of your content as it was designed. No need to worry whether your video wall will look good enough, as Samsung displays have a minimum accuracy of 90% local uniformity.
Nowadays, it is easier than ever to create and manage content for your video wall as Samsung displays already have a built-in player and are compatible with MagicINFO, the only digital signage solution you need to achieve your business goals. You can find more information about the different MagicINFO licenses and cloud subscriptions available on our website.
Video walls can have touch screens to offer an interactive customer experience
You can also use video walls to create interactive customer experiences by choosing touchscreen displays. These interactive video walls captivate audiences, encouraging them to engage with the displayed content and fostering a deeper connection with your brand. Touch screens bring a whole other level of engagement where graphics and/or information is triggered upon the touch of the screen or a portion of the screen.
Multi-source
visualisation
Lastly, a video wall can be used for multi-source visualisation by displaying multiple sources of information simultaneously on a large, high-resolution canvas. This feature is particularly valuable in control rooms, command centers, or network operations centers, where real-time monitoring and analysis of various data streams are crucial. By leveraging a video wall controller, operators can combine feeds from multiple sources, such as surveillance cameras, live broadcasts, computer applications, and data visualisations, to create a comprehensive overview of the situation.
The flexibility of video walls allows for customisable layouts, resizing, and repositioning of individual sources as needed. This multi-source visualisation enhances situational awareness, facilitates collaboration, and enables informed decision-making in dynamic and data-intensive environments.
Conclusion
In today's blog, we learned what video walls are, touched upon some key differences between LED walls and video walls, and talked about the different uses of video walls and the benefits of having a video wall installed.
In conclusion, installing a video wall offers numerous advantages that can greatly enhance communication, engagement, and collaboration in a variety of settings. From captivating audiences with high-quality visuals to providing multisource visualization in control rooms, video walls have emerged as a versatile and powerful display solution. With their scalability, flexibility, and the potential for creating interactive customer experiences, video walls cater to the ever-evolving needs of businesses and organizations. As technology continues to advance, video walls will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of innovative display solutions, making them a valuable investment for those seeking to elevate their visual communication and overall user experience.
You have reached the end of today's blog. For more information on how to use digital signage and MagicINFO to level up your project schedule a meeting with one of our MagicINFO experts.
Wall to Wall Coverage
There is a lot to like about
Wherever video walls go, they are the centerpiece of attention. People can hardly be blamed for focusing on them, as they are capable of incredible visual designs at a scale that no other technology can match. There is a time and place for every display option, but video walls are king where impact is concerned. No other technology can be scaled up to fit in a sport stadium. No other technology can present ultra HD images at a scale large enough for an entire venue. No other technology is as dynamic or versatile as video walls. Unsurprisingly, they are extremely effective for branding and artistic purposes. What may be surprising is that they are also excellent at relaying information and broadcasting all kinds of media.There is a lot to like about video walls , and the clue is in how people respond to them. They are always a focal point of the space, and pedestrians or customers can’t help themselves – it’s just not common to run into a massive, high definition display. Business and venue owners can obviously leverage this to their advantage. And speaking of advantage, there are many that come with video wall technology, and a comprehensive list could go on forever. These are the highlights:
1. No resolution limitations – Resolution is an easy concept to understand. It’s about pixel count and density. The more pixels, the more detailed an image the display can deliver. From this simple concept, it’s clear why video walls are so effective at creating visual impact. Stack an array of high definition displays on top of each other, and those resolutions are additive. As long as there is a formidable digital signal processor driving it all, a video wall can display a massive image with no loss of fine detail.
The applications here are tremendous. Imagine an airport displaying a sweeping skyline of the city, with every minute detail relayed perfectly. Or a museum exhibit that simulates a sojourn through space or time, surrounding visitors while offering a feast for the eyes. There are truly no limits here.
2. Clear image brightness and quality in every setting – Front projectors are the primary alternative to a video wall, but they have a problem in bright areas, like venues that rely on natural light. LCD and LED displays are brilliantly backlit, so they offer much greater brightness and contrast values than projectors. This is clear when sunlight intrudes on a projected image – it appears washed out and muted. Not an issue with video walls, and that’s an important advantage, given that natural light is generally considered a feature in modern environmental designs.
3. Flexible hardware layout options – True, most video walls are just that – a wall. They’re grids, but they don’t have to be. With some clever mounting and display options, designers can arrange displays in all kinds of patterns, including abstract geometric or curved layouts. Video walls can even be free-standing or three-dimensional, if using cube displays. In short, there are plenty of hardware layouts that haven’t been done before, if a business or venue wants to go for something truly memorable. And by relying on this approach, the installation’s visual impact can be multiplied while reducing the number of displays present.
No other display technology compares in this area. Try doing this with a projector – it’s nowhere near as easy.
4. Processing power – It takes more processing punch to drive a video wall, but that extra processing oomph is another benefit to the technology. Professional-grade video wall controllers, are much, much beefier than those found in single displays. As such, not only can they drive content at a larger scale, they can drive more content at a smoother rate than single displays can.
5. Extensive content manipulation options – Video wall controllers give owners plenty of tools on the backend. These tools can be used to present content on the video wall in various ways. The controller effectively turns the displays into a single canvas, onto which content can be arranged, resized or layered in some creative layouts.
Fortunately, video controller software is not designed just for designers. It’s made so that anyone with a basic level of skill can easily manage them. That’s important for venues that need to switch content out regularly. In a matter of moments, a user can access the backend and update content. Event schedules, product specials, daily menu items – these can be tweaked with little effort as things change. It’s even easier than that, in most cases, as controller software allows users to define preset layouts and deploy them with a single click. That’s helpful for venues that make use of the same layouts regularly.
6. Signal versatility – A single display or projector is limited in its connectivity and ability to capture multiple sources. Both can only connect to some devices and they cannot display more than a single source at once. Again, not a problem with video walls. A video wall can grab multiple signals and display them at once, even if they are in varying formats and resolutions. Each one can be accessed using the video wall controller too, so they can be manipulated individually and spruced up so they are ready for presentation.
7. Looks modern and sharp – We’re not talking about the image quality again. This time, it’s about how the installation itself appears. And for nearly everyone, video walls look like something out of a sci-fi movie. Because they are built and arranged with no bezels (as opposed to the thick bezels still found on single displays), they look impossibly clean and streamlined. There’s no hunk of metal hanging from the ceiling, either, which is what the projector route offers. And yes, projectors can be concealed, but that takes extra work and an extra financial commitment.
That sharp aesthetic reflects positively on the video wall’s owner. In a clothing store, a video wall sells the idea of sophistication and luxury. In a sports bar, a video wall makes the big game look even bigger. In a corporate boardroom, a video wall is synonymous with professionalism, impressing potential clients and partners.
8. Less maintenance required – A video wall may look like something that requires constant babysitting, but they require less maintenance than projectors. That has to do with the light engine powering these displays. A video wall normally relies on highly efficient and reliable light engine technology like LEDs. A projector, though, is stuck in the past in this regard, with bulbs that burn out after a few thousand hours.
LED lighting is the most promising development in the lighting industry in a long time. Each diode lamp provides at least 50,000 hours of performance with little loss in quality as it nears end of life. Improving manufacturing methods mean that this number will surely go up, as will the already-superior efficiency marks. LEDs are also some of the most durable lights ever made, as they are built on solid state circuitry, and not fragile filaments. As a result, video walls need close to zero maintenance, even after years of operation. Projectors, though, need to be addressed regularly. This problem is compounded if the projector was concealed during installation, as access will be a continuing source of frustration.
9. Interactivity is a natural fit – Video walls are even more compelling when they can be interacted with. Fortunately, it’s a common addition to modern video walls and can greatly enhance the installation’s engagement. People can use video walls to navigate around a building, check event or travel schedules, scrub through a carousel of images or products, or just play around. Interactive video walls are popular centerpieces in art installations and can improve branding without feeling unwelcome. Video walls, again, lend themselves to interactivity much more naturally than projectors.
Video walls are feats of engineering and design, capable of drawing eyes wherever they’re placed. And given their impressive versatility and functionality, there’s no reason to go with anything else.
Video walls are feats of engineering and design, capable of drawing eyes wherever they’re placed. And given their impressive versatility and functionality, there’s no reason to go with anything else.