Month: June 2018

BEST Conference Room Display …When designing a collaborative space, one of the first questions we’re commonly asked is, “what is better for my conference room, an LED display or a projection system?” This is a great question to tackle early in the design. Many factors determine the best choice.

BEST Conference Display – Which Display Solution is best?

While price, lighting, installation options and total cost of ownership (TCO) need to be considered, the answer depends first, on the project’s goals and secondly, on the calculated proper screen size. Technology does not drive the best solution. Instead, the use and goals will drive the technology. Imagine buying a new delivery truck. Would you base the purchase on cost, gas mileage and color alone, or would you also need to factor in the payload weight and size as well? Once the size is determined and the client and AV Designer have a clear understanding of the goals to be achieved, the type of display best suited for the application can be revealed.  Let’s explore each.

Projection Technologies – DLP/LCD/LASER

Technologies in projection systems include three main types: traditional HID (high-intensity discharge lamps) DLP projectors, LCD projectors and laser projectors.  Laser projectors are quickly gaining momentum in the industry. Their extraordinary picture quality, long lamp life and energy savings make them appealing.  A laser projector can run 20,000 hours before displaying a noticeable degradation of light output. Whereas, a DLP unit’s degradation may be detected as early as 1500 hours. A DLP’s HID lamp is usually changed every 2,000 to 3,000 hours. Despite the added initial cost of laser (approximately 30% over that of HID), it yields a lower TCO. LED lighted technology is still available. However, its lower lumens are more appropriate for home theater than a bright office environment.   

Flat Screens – Plasma, LED, OLED/QLED

The main “Flat Panel” or “Flat Screen” display technologies are Plasma, LED, and OLED (organic light-emitting diode), with the most common and widely accepted technology being the “LED LCD” display. 

OLED, originally created in 1987 by researchers at Eastman Kodak, is the latest technology to sweep market.   Manufacturers are already looking at direct view micro-LED technology as the next “big thing.” LED Direct View technology is also on the rise. Originally used in applications like Times Square and stadium scoreboards, manufacturers are now able to provide smaller pixel pitch panels that allow for finer picture quality.  These can be found in digital signage applications, auditoriums and Emergency Operations Centers. LED Direct view can also be found in larger boardrooms and training spaces affected by excessive, uncontrolled ambient light. As the price continues to settle and the pixel pitch technology becomes smaller (Micro-LED), we will see more direct view in board rooms and smaller spaces.

Best practices determining the proper viewing screen size

As shared in Part One, there are for best practices determining ideal viewing screen size in a conference room. Those formulas and guidelines apply to 4K displays/projection screens as well. Keep in mind that 4 times the amount of pixels will be displayed. How does this affect the image being displayed? The resolution is incredibly true and sharp. Font size and detailed content such as spreadsheets, will need to be enlarged for viewing.

So, what is better for your BEST Conference Room Display? An LED display or a projection system? Just give us a call. We’ll help “measure up” your choices and design the best solution for your needs.