Articles and whitepapers

Display Options for TV (5/7/2004)

By Rob Butler

The past forty years or so have seen huge advances in both TV and display options. Consumer interest is always at its height when new TV products and technologies are introduced, leading to the inevitable sales increase as we all try to 'keep up with the Jones'.' Transmissions have also changed dramatically during this time, with the introduction of digital technologies in terrestrial and satellite television - and another sales boost is on its way with the introduction of high definition TV (HDTV). This offers 1080-line resolution and is now available via satellite from Astra 11H at 19.2 degrees. All well and good you may think, but what are the issues and the industry's concerns with our TV displays?

TV fashion

From the typically humble average lounge TV set of a few years ago, we are now subjected to a veritable plethora of display variations. From plasma and LCD displays we now note the first derivatives designed to attract that (often) most difficult-to-please customer - the lady of the house. Based on a plasma or LCD unit, the Mirror Media MirrorTV replaces the central lounge picture or mirror in full 'sniper' mode. But you may not want to watch TV over the mantelpiece, so this type of display is possibly more suited to the bedroom or other viewing areas.

The Mirror Media MirrorTV as a mirror

The Mirror Media MirrorTV as a TV

Concealed TV displays are certainly becoming much more in vogue. The cunning use of motorised 'lifts' raising the display out of its hiding place deep in your favourite lounge cabinet or bed footboard, or drop-downs underneath your kitchen wall unit, is increasing, as are the variations-on-a-theme by designers and manufacturers. All in your chosen wood type and colours of course, Sir and Madam.

TV viewing

Okay, so now our 42" plasma display has eventually glided into view out of our bespoke cabinet and we expect to sit back and watch 'Panorama' in phenomenal visual definition. No way! Purchasing a larger screen, be it a plasma or LCD will certainly degrade a normal TV picture - sometimes to almost unwatchable proportions. It is simple really, a larger screen means wider 'lines' and poorer quality, so it is always advisable to view terrestrial TV via a digital source such as Freeview or Sky, since we will be able to 'move up' a resolution. To prove this point, compare TV with a DVD source. There is an instant difference, and if we move to higher resolutions such as RGB or even VGA (computer graphics), the increase in picture quality is even more noticeable. Change the 'refresh' rate in the display's menu to improve the 'flicker' rate, and we have further noticeable improvements. Position the display away from light reflections at a comfortable eye-level height so as not to pressurise susceptible neck muscles, and your vision improves too. The same viewing position extends to screens displaying images via a projector. It is all basics really, but a supplying specialist installer will guide you through the thought process.

We now note the intrusion of new long-life (60,000 hour) plasma screens into our shopping experiences via the new buzz-expression 'digital signage.' Manufacturers keen to promote their wares at the expense of their rivals expect service providers in this new market sector to provide UXGA (1600 x 1200) line resolutions with strategically-positioned screens for maximised merchandising in hypermarkets, airports, foyers, lounges and the like.

With the advent of Cat5 cable being 'flood-wired' into the majority of new homes and commercial buildings for signal distribution, the positioning of TV displays relative to the 'old' co-axial wall outlet is far less critical. It is simple and quick to re-position a screen in a room when there are several Cat5 outlets - each one capable of passing stereo audio and composite (baseband) video to the display. Now the lady of the house can move her furniture around to her heart's content!

Many clients choose a plasma simply because "it's what my friends have," but if you do, make sure that it is of the new long-life type - otherwise choose an LCD screen (my personal favourite). Both these types of displays will be able to handle new transmission technologies best of all, for the foreseeable future, but remember that there are plasmas and there are plasmas - you get what you pay for! Remember also, that full digital transmissions will be thrust upon us in total by 2010.

So there we have it. If in doubt, call up the experts, then sit back and enjoy your viewing - for real!

Rob Butler is the Business Development Manager for SCC Convergency - a one-stop solution information company for A/V distribution technologies on land, sea and air.

www.scc-convergency.co.uk