Gadgets Gossip

LCD Screens For BPO and ITES Companies - What to Consider When Purchasing These LCD Screens?

2009-05-08T02:10:00.000-07:00

Business Process Outsourcing ("BPO") and Information Technology Enabled Services ("ITES") companies are using LCD screens to improve productivity, quality of service and the "look and feel" of their operations.

For example, many LCD monitors have been sold to BPO companies such as ICICI Bank’s Hyderabad call centre, EXL Service, and WNS India. These LCD screens are being used for displaying incoming calls to be addressed, call centre performance as a feedback loop for individual call centre executives, training information and local customer market information, among other usage. Since LCD monitors (or LCD Information Displays as they are called) are sleek and occupy less space than conventional solutions like Video Cubes, and with real estate space in a call centre or network operation centre being a premium, LCD monitors are an ideal fit for the BPO and ITES industries. LCD monitors also consume ~50% less power, emit little heat or radiation compared to PDPs. For large screen sizes, LCD displays provide better image and sound quality compared to all other conventional display technologies.

Below please find an analysis of what BPO and ITES Companies are considering when purchasing these LCD screens.

What to Consider When Purchasing these LCD Screens for BPO and ITES Companies?

Price: Price is always a vital factor for making a purchase decision however BPO and ITES companies are increasingly using a high quality LCD monitors vs. LCD TVs based on the Total Cost of Ownership. Even though LCD TVs are cheaper, their life span can be shorter, especially if operated for extended number of hours in a day. LCD monitors are meant for 24x7 operations and are rugged devices with longer life and lower total cost of ownership.

Rugged Devices with Extended Operations Capability: LCD Information Displays are made for 24x7 operations while LCD TVs are made for limited viewing. LCD Information Displays are fan-less closed box units and hence it is harder for dust and other contaminants to penetrate the box. LCD TVs have fans and are not closed devices. For BPO and ITES Companies where failure of a screen can create major problem or loss of business, it’s not advisable to risk using LCD TVs.

Network Capability: Make sure that the LCD screen has RS-232 and LAN network connectivity, which allows remote monitoring of the various LCD screens. Alarms can be set incase an LCD screen is not working or if there is an imminent failure in the LCD Unit (eg. unit is overheating). Power and other controls can be monitored remotely and devices and switched off or dimmed when not in operations to conserve energy and reduce electricity bills.

Power Consumption: LCD monitors consume less power than any other display technologies. The electricity bill for a large BPO may run into several Crores Indian Rupees annually. Shifting from less energy efficient displays to LCDs have shown savings of 20% or more on the total electricity bill for a NOC Room. Also, since LCD screens emit less radiation than PDPs, BPOs prefer them to protect the health of their employees who need to spend long hours in front of monitors.

Picture Quality: Most large LCDs are high definition. High definition LCDs provide better picture resolution, better contrast ratio, high brightness, high colour reproduction and faster response time resulting in better picture clarity. LCD screens cause less eye fatigue and hence it’s easy to work for long time. They emit zero radiation, which will ensure lesser or no eyestrain even at times of continuous use and are not even affected by magnetic interference. Further, the non glare feature of LCDs grants easy viewing in ambient light or where the background light is being reflected on the screen.

Learn about new features by checking out details available at most LCD screen manufacturers websites. Sharp is the LCD information display industry leader and more details can be found at their site. Information can also be found at NEC and Sony sites. You should also read other related articles to make the right decision for your LCD purchase!

More details about the LCD displays visit http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com

LCD Screens For Financial Markets - What to Consider When Purchasing These LCD Screens?

2009-04-21T21:45:00.001-07:00

Financial institutions are using technology to improve the quality of services being offered. LCD screens are prime contributors to quality improvement and improving the overall "look and feel" of various financial institutions like banks and stock markets trading centres.

For example, ICICI Bank in India is using LCD monitors to showcase the bank products and to show the token number for waiting clients, all on the same screen. New York Stock Exchange is using LCD Information Display screens to show stock information and news. The screens provide a clear, continuously updated status list of stock prices, currency exchange rates and other financial information

Financial institutions are also using LCD screen for security purposes where multiple security images are seen on one large screen to give a full panoramic picture of the activities happening in a bank branch or other financial institution.

When buying LCD screens financial institutions are purchasing LCD Information Displays and not LCD TVs. Below please find an analysis of why financial institutions are buying LCD Information Display and what they consider when purchasing theses screen.

What to Consider When Purchasing these LCD Screens for Financial Institutions?

LCD Screen Price: Price is always important however financial institutions are increasingly evaluating the Total Cost of Ownership. Even though LCD TVs are cheaper, their life span can be shorter, especially if operated for extended number of hours in a day. TVs unlike displays are meant for limited number of hour viewing unlike LCD information display that are meant for 24x7 operations.

Ruggedness and Extended Operation Capability: LCD Information Displays unlike LCD TVs are fan-less closed box units. As a result it is harder for dust and other contaminants to penetrate the box. Further LCD informational displays are made for 24x7 operations while LCD TVs are made for limited viewing. Ruggedness and life of the LCD screen is very important to reduce failures of the LCD screens. For financial institution operations where failure of a screen can create significant inconvenience or loss of business, it does not make sense to risk using a LCD TV.

LCD Network Capability: Please make sure that the LCD screen features RS-232 and LAN network connectivity. The network connectivity enables remote monitoring of diverse LCD screens. You can also set alarms if an LCD screen is switched off or not working. Remote monitoring of power and other controls can also be done easily. For example, incase there is no signal, a power save mode can be activated to reduce the brightness of the LCD backlight by activating an energy saving feature.

Picture Quality: Most large LCDs are high definition. High definition LCDs offers better picture resolution, contrast ratio, brightness, colour reproduction and fast response time which results in enhanced picture clarity. High definition, brightness and contrast ratio are vital features for LCDs to have in financial sectors as they have crucial pricing information and other related details. Further, the non glare feature of LCDs allows for easy viewing in ambient light or where there is background light being reflected on the screen. Most new LCDs have 176° viewing angle, making it easy for viewing. Check viewing details to ensure that it meets your quality requirements.

New LCD screen features are continuously emerging in order to attract the prospective users on a large scale. You can read other related articles in order to make the right decision for your LCD purchase.

More details about the LCD and plasma displays visit http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com

LCD Screens for Medical Applications and Hospitals

2009-04-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

Technology is improving patient care and increasing revenue per bed and overall cost structures of hospitals. LCD screens are key contributors to cost improvement and improving overall "look and feel" of hospitals

For example, the Cincinnati Children's Hospital is using LCD Information Display screens to improve patient flow and increase family member awareness about patient location. In any large hospital, a great deal of coordination is required to move patients through the operating facility efficiently and seamlessly, from the pre-operative through to the recovery areas. Which treatment rooms are available? Which patients are ready for surgery next? Has a procedure in the operating room been completed ahead of schedule? Tracking each patient and coordinating resources requires staff to have immediate access to patient case data, at any time. The idea behind installing the LCD Information Display screens was to provide doctors, nurses and orderlies with better visual access to the operative status of each patient in its operating facility - without having to find a terminal and log in. The screens would provide a clear, continuously updated status list of each patient in the operating and treatment areas. These digital signs would tell staff which rooms are available, which patients are ready for transport, and what actions need to be taken for smooth operation of the facility. Patient safety and quality of care were also elevated with this solution

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in India is using LCD Information Display screens for medical imaging and collaborative medical diagnosis. The key needs for deploying LCD information display screens vs LCD TVs were picture quality, large size and no fan noise in the operating theatre room. Large LCD displays are also being deployed in hallways, waiting areas, nurse monitoring centres, and video imaging diagnostic centers.

The display needs for these hospitals large screens are usually similar. Large LCD information displays are the technology of choice for large screens due to their low radiation emissions, low power usage compared to Plasma, increased ruggedness and high resolution. Below we outline key needs of LCD screens for hospitals:

LCD Information Display vs. TV Price: Price is an important criterion however many hospitals, buy on price versus functionality important and length of usage. As a result they will buy an LCD TV rather than a LCD Information Display as they can find cheap LCD TVs. LCD TVs are not closed end boxes so they result in premature failure or desired functionality is lacking resulting in the LCD TV being replaced sooner than it should be.

Internet Connectivity: Increasingly patients are demanding Internet connectivity to their rooms and are willing to pay for such facility. LCD screens need to be equipped with computer inputs such as VGA, HDMI or DVI inputs. The computer inputs are available on LCD information displays and usually not available on LCD TVs though some new LCD TV models do not have this issue.

Reduced Biological Pollution, Ruggedness and 24x7 Device Operations: LCD screens for hospitals need to be rugged and closed. LCD Information Displays are rugged (vs. LCD TVs) as LCD Informational Displays are fan-less closed box units that can offer protection from dust and biological pollution, which is very important for hospitals. LCD Informational Displays are made for 24x7 operations while LCD TVs are made for limited hourly viewing in a day.

Network Connectivity: The network connectivity is required for remote monitoring of the various LCD devices.Be sure that the LCD screen has RS-232 and LAN network connectivity. Having this connectivity, alarms can be managed if an LCD screen is switched off or performing poorly. For example, an energy saving feature can be initiated so that when there is no signal, a power save mode is activated to reduce the brightness of the LCD backlight.

No Sound or Tuning Capability in Individual LCD units: No need for internal TV speakers as sound is output through pillow speakers which control noise in the patient room and hallway by limiting individual TV volume. Individual TV tuners are not required as TVs channels are fed through cable tv tuners to provide better image and selection.

Picture Quality: Picture quality is an important criterion in hospitals. Select high definition LCD screens. High definition LCDs provide better picture resolution, better contrast ratio, high brightness, high colour reproduction and fast response time resulting in better picture clarity. Most new LCDs have 176° viewing angle and have non glare features for easy viewing in daylight. Check the viewing specifications to make sure that the LCD screen you are buying meets your quality needs.

LCD display market is continuously evolving New LCD screen features are continuously emerging. Check with the LCD screen manufacturer to learn about new features. Read other articles and make the right decision for your LCD purchase.

For more information on LCD Screen, check out Sharp’s official LCD monitor site! http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com/

Power Hungry Plasma Displays to Be Banned in Europe and California

2009-03-30T00:06:00.001-07:00

European Union and California wants to ban plasma screen televisions plasma screen televisions as they "guzzle" too much power and adds to the global warming issue.

Press Coverage on Ban: According to the Daily Express, "A 42in plasma television uses over twice as much power as a traditional television set. Some of the larger models can take as much as electricity to run a fridge freezer".

LA Times reports that "(California) State regulators are getting ready to curb the growing power gluttony of TV sets by drafting the nation's first rules requiring retailers to sell only the most energy-efficient models...". The regulation is expected to pass in mid-2009. According to LA Times, "During a peak viewing time when most sets are on, such as the Super Bowl, TVs in the (California) state collectively suck up the equivalent of 40% of the power generated by the San Onofre nuclear power station running at full capacity. Televisions account for about 10% of the average Californian's monthly household electricity bill". Further the article goes to describe how Plasma screens are more power hungry than LCD screens.

Power Usage Comparison of Plasma vs LCD: We looked at various professional large screen displays that businesses would buy, to see if what is being reported is correct. Below we analyze some of the Plasma professional display brands against the Sharp LCD screens to understand how plasma screens compares with LCD screens. Our finding was that Plasma displays consumed almost twice as much power per display than LCD display of similar size.

Comparing Panasonic Plasma Display vs. Sharp LCD Display

· 65" Panasonic Plasma Display: A 65inch professional plasma display by Panasonic (TH-65PF11), which is high definition display, consumes 755W of power, according to the company display brochure.

· 65" Sharp LCD Display: A 65inch profession LCD display by Sharp (PN-S655), which is also a high definition display but using LCD technology, consumes 480W of power, according to the company display brochure.

We looked at other professional display brands to see their power consumptions.

· 60" LG Plasma Display: LG does not offer a 65inch professional plasma display for business use. The 60inch plasma display LG plasma display (60PG70FR) uses (690W-760W) of power.

· 50" Sony Plasma Display: The largest professional plasma display offered by Sony is 50inches (FWD-50PX3/S). The 50inch plasma display uses 440W of power compared to Sharp 46 inch LCD display using 312W of power.

Do your own analysis but it does seem that Plasma displays consume more power than LCD displays. By placing restrictions on display companies EU and California governments hope to encourage display companies to produce more efficient displays and TV screens. With the growth of flat-screen TVs, this is bound to make a difference. As consumers and the world gets more "green" conscious, it makes sense for business to be aware about recent trends as this will save them more money in the long run.

More details about the LCD and plasma displays visit http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com

LCD Screens For Commuter Trains (Metro) And Railway Stations

2009-03-09T03:19:00.000-07:00

Large LCD screens can be found on the train, at the railway station and in railway control rooms. Recently, January 9, 2009, the Indian Western Railways announced that they will install 4,000 large panel LCD screens in 67 trains. The LCD screens will be installed by an OOH media company who will earn revenue from the advertisement on the screens and Western Railways will get a license fee of Rs 7 Crore (approx. US$1.75M) per year for the duration of the contract (which is 5 years). These LCD screens will play a mix of entertainment, information and advertising for 18 hours a day in all trains. LCD screens can also be found in the railway stations. Trivandrum Central, the biggest railway station in the state of Kerala in India, is considered "swanky" by most visitors as a result LCD flat screen televisions contributing to the overall look and feel.

However the LCD display needs for these railway displays are usually similar. Below we outline key needs of LCD screens for railways:

Price: Price is an important criteria however many OOH media companies, to their detriment, usually buy the cheapest LCD screen available for a given format size. Railways require rugged closed LCD displays. Buying cheap LCD displays or LCD TVs which are not closed boxes, may result in premature failure of the screen.

Ruggedness and 24x7 Operation Capability: LCD screens for railways need to be rugged. For this reason, it is important to have LCD informational displays vs. LCD TVs as LCD informational displays are fan-less closed box units that can offer protection from dust and other contaminants. Further LCD informational displays are made for 24x7 operation while LCD TVs are made for limited viewing. Ruggedness and life of the LCD screen is very important to reduce failures of the LCD screens. LCD failures will cause inconvenience to passengers and may disrupt traffic flow at railway stations.

Network Capability: Be sure that the LCD screen has RS-232 and LAN network connectivity. The network connectivity allows for remote monitoring of the various LCD screens. Alarms can be set if an LCD screen is switched off or if it is not working. Power and other controls can be monitored remotely. For example, an energy saving feature can be activated so that when there is no signal, a power save mode is activated to reduce the brightness of the LCD backlight.

Picture Quality: Most large LCDs are high definition. High definition LCDs provide better picture resolution, better contrast ratio, high brightness, high colour reproduction and fast response time resulting in better picture clarity. High definition, high brightness and high contrast ratio are important features for LCDs to have in railway environment for easy picture viewing. Further, the non glare feature of LCDs allows for easy viewing in ambient light or where there is background light being reflected on the screen. Most new LCDs have 176° viewing angle, making it easy for viewing. Check the viewing specifications to make sure meets your quality requirements

Slow-scan (legacy) Signal Capability: If the LCD screens are being installed in the old chassis of the old CRT television or in a mixed network of CRT televisions and LCD displays, the LCD screen needs to be slow-scan legacy signal compatible.

New LCD screen features are continuously emerging. Check with the LCD screen manufacturer to learn about new features. Read other articles and make the right decision for your LCD purchase.

For more information on LCD monitors, check out Sharp’s official LCD monitor site! http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com/

Emerging Trend: Large LCD Monitors for Surveillance and Security

2009-03-04T22:33:00.000-08:00

Increasingly video-based surveillance and security systems are being widely adopted by both corporations and consumers primarily due to increasing need for surveillance in these turbulent times but also due to affordability of security systems, ease with which surveillance systems can be installed and value-add features such remote monitoring that address special surveillance needs. As a result video-based surveillance systems are increasingly appearing in public areas such as airport lounges, shopping centres, retail stores, colleges, universities, manufacturing facilities and corporate offices. These video surveillance systems can be CCTV or IP based. Consider the benefits that a video surveillance system provides and the broad adoption by the market is quite understandable. A surveillance and security system:
· Helps deter employee theft and shoplifting theft,
· Helps monitor & document performance in manufacturing or other facilities resulting in potential reduction in maintenance cost and/or employee productivity improvement,
· May help reduce insurance cost and fraudulent liability claims, and
· Can continuously document events so your entire business has greater protection.

Reasons for Large LCD Monitor Adoption: Within these surveillance systems packages, large LCDs monitors (>42”) are becoming the industry norm. The reasons being:
· Size: Large screens allow for continuous and simultaneous monitoring of multiple camera video feeds on one screen with clarity. Smaller screens require that the images from the video feeds to rotate creating holes in the monitoring data.
· 24x7 Operations: Professional LCD monitors are meant for 24x7 “round the clock” operations with long life. CRT televisions or Plasma television each have their issues with round the clock operations such as static or flicker for CRT televisions. Also, the life of a CRT or Plasma TV is much shorter when operated in 24x7 operation mode as compared to an LCD monitor. CRT and Plasma televisions are built to be on for a few hours per day.
· Picture Quality: Most large LCDs are high definition. High definition LCDs provide better picture resolution, better contrast ratio, high brightness, high colour reproduction and fast response time resulting in better picture clarity which is especially helpful when the camera is being zoomed in or multiple images are viewed simultaneously. High Definition LCD TV allows you to view minute details like number plates of a speeding car, face of a person etc. Further, the non glare feature of LCDs allows for easy viewing in ambient light or where there is background light being reflected on the screen. It is harder to reduce glare in CRT or plasma televisions. Most new LCDs have 176° viewing angle, making it easy for viewing. Check the viewing specifications to make sure meets your quality requirements.
· Robustness: LCDs generate less heat than a CRT or Plasma television. The fan-less design for most large LCD monitors results in a closed box display with less noise. The fan-less design and the closed box display also results in less dust entering the system and provides for a more robust architecture.
· Space: LCD monitors are flat panel displays requiring less space than normal CRT TVs. They can be wall mounted. The LCD monitor can be encapsulated in a fire retardant frame to protect the display
· Better Video and Data Merger: Increasingly programs are being utilized to identify theft or issues in real time and data is being merged onto the video stream in real time. LCDs provide for better merging and viewing of data with video.
· Remote Monitoring and Operation of Large LCD Screens: Alarms can be set if an LCD screen is switched off. Power and other controls can be monitored remotely. For example, an energy saving feature can be activated so that when there is no signal, a power save mode is activated to reduce the brightness of the LCD backlight.
· Value-add Features: Value-add features such as touch screen zoom-in /zoom-out and image swap or other functions such as internet access can be easily found or added onto LCD monitors.

Purchase Consideration When Buying a Large LCD Monitor: Besides price there are a few items to consider when purchasing an LCD monitor.
· Match LCD Monitor to Camera Capabilities: If you buy a monitor with lower resolution than the cameras installed then the camera capabilities will not come through. Ideally the monitor should be equal or better resolution than the camera. Also, if the cameras are black and white, then a black and white monitor can be used.
· Input /Output Connectors on the Monitor: With the increasing use of PC and digital video devices, it is important to have both analog VGA and digital DVI input terminals to the monitor. Also, be sure that the monitor has BNC connectors for direct connection from a video feed to the display. BNC connectors support video looping, which provides output (loops back) to a centralized recording facility (DVR) or to other displays in a daisy-chain pattern. When scrolling through different images, this allows for seamless integration between pictures.
· Picture Quality Features: Consider the resolution, contrast ratio, brightness, colour reproduction and response time to meet your surveillance need.
· Value-add Features: Consider the value-adds that address your need. Such as, do you need remote monitoring, touch screen capability, or internet access?

Make the knowledgeable decision and your surveillance system can address your needs for many years.

For more information on LCD monitors, check out Sharp’s official LCD monitor site! http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com/

Sharp 108” LCD TV /Display: An Eye-Catcher for Businesses

2009-01-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

In November, Sharp India did the product release for the largest flat panel LCD display in the world – the 108-inch LB-1085 model. It is an eye-catcher that stops you in your tracks to just look at the crystal clear picture — better than what one would see in a movie theater.

Basic Features: With screen dimensions of 93.9-inches wide by 52.9-inches high (7.8-feet by 4.4-feet), full-HD resolution with 6.21 million pixels (1,920 x 1,080), a TFT (thin-film transistor) active matrix drive system, and array of inputs, including HDMITM, Blue-ray and DVI-I for high definition connections, it is not surprising that the picture is awe-inspiring. The contrast ratio is 1200:1, producing a good black color, the brightness is 400 cd/m2, producing bright vivid colors, and the response speed of 6ms is super-fast for viewing fast moving videos.

Once you see a movie or play a video game on this screen, you cannot imagine viewing a smaller screen. However, at current prices of INR 97 lakhs, this is only going to be accessible to a few exclusive high net-worth individuals and sure to be a prize possession for the limited few that can afford these TVs.

Business Value Proposition: The value proposition should be more acceptable to corporate looking to leverage world-class infrastructure to attract and retain customers or those building an office or boardroom environment that will be current for a few years. The fan-less design makes the 108-inch Sharp LCD display more attractive than the 103-inch Panasonic Plasma display, not because of the larger size but because of the robustness cutting edge LCD technology and closed fan-less design architecture. Combine the robustness of the unit with fact that LCD images are easier to view in ambient light than plasma images, viewing angles being approximately the same (the viewing angle for the 108-inch Sharp LCD is 176°) and the fact that LCD displays can be operated 24x7 for over 5 years with no deterioration in image quality, 108-inch Sharp LCD should be the longer term choice for businesses.

Other features will welcomed by businesses:
· Remote Monitoring and Management of Monitors: Up to 100 LCD monitors can be monitored and managed remotely. For example, the power can be switched off to conserve energy and remote diagnostics can be performed to diagnose problems with the monitor before dispatching a technician to fix the problem.
· Efficient Power Management: The 108” monitor is equivalent to having four 52” monitors placed together, however the power usage is much better than having four 52” displays.
· Fan-less Design for Quieter Operation: No fans in the display, results not only in a more robust architecture that better protects the display from dust and other environmental conditions, but there is less noise.

Business Usage: We will not be surprised to see these displays appear in:
· High-end malls: Not just to highlight or advertise key products and shops, but to show music videos and events at the mall. How can this not jazz up the malls and in the current environment of using every tool to drive traffic to the mall, this display will surely will be a must-have feature
· Live Events, Trade Shows and Reality TV Sets: Grabbing attention in all these applications is the key to success and 108-inch display does just that
· Training Centres: With LCD being a better technology to show both data images and along with the size advantage, we will be sure to see more training centres using the 108-inch Sharp display. Combine digital whiteboard capabilities that can be added-on and the value-add is even more significant.
· Security Monitoring, Network Operation Centers & Other Control and Command Centres: The ability to see multiple images at the same time and the ability to zoom in and out on troubled spot creates a value-proposition for this large display
· Advertising: Again the Wow! factor will drive adoption in this market

More details about the Sharp 108-inch LCD panel can be found at Sharp Business Systems LCD site (http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com) or go to www.sbsil.com and select “Professional LCD Display”.

Should Businesses buy a Projector or an LCD display?

2008-12-16T20:37:00.000-08:00

With the price of large (>32”) LCD displays decreasing rapidly and new functionalities being added to LCD displays, does it still make sense for businesses to buy a projector vs. an LCD display?

Some of the variables to consider when evaluating this question are product quality, price, picture quality, screen size and other such considerations. We discuss these and other factors from a typical business organization perspective. Read other articles and make your informed judgement.

Product Life: LCD TVs or displays typically have a backlight life of 30,000 to 60,000 hours (ie, if you have the display on for ~6 hours every day, the backlight will last for 16 years). Even then the backlight can be replaced in most LCD displays. A projector bulb typically has a life of 2,000 hours.

Price Considerations: A basic projector can be found for INR 25,000. However, if the projector is going to be used for video conferencing or board room presentation, a high resolution, good contrast ratio and saturated colour projector would be required. The cost of such a projector is close to INR 1 lakh. Thereafter, you need to factor in the prices of projector bulb and projection screens. A typical projector bulb needs to be replaced almost every year or two with bulbs costing Rs 20,000+ per bulb. We have added these costs over a five-year period to compare a projector vs. an LCD (see chart below). With 46” LCD TV or display costing around Rs 135,000 – Rs 150,000 and dropping, price becomes less of an issue when considering whether to buy a Projector or LCD display

Figure: Total Cost of Ownership Comparison for Projector vs. LCD Display

Basic Device capital cost for projector is INR 70,000 and that of an LCD display is INR 150,000, Projector Screen Capital Cost (Wall Mount Screens INR 5-15K) is INR 10,000, Consumable cost of the projector is 20,000 x 3 = INR 60,000, Consumable life of a projector is 2,000hrs and that of an LCD display is 60,000hrs and the Cost of Ownership of a projector is Rs.140, 000/- and Rs.150, 000/- for an LCD display.

Assume: 5years of usage @ 5hrs a day ~ 6600hrs of use. This translates to 4 lamps in 5 years requiring the customer to buy 3 lamps in addition to 1 supplied with machine.

What is clear from the above figure is that a Full High Definition 46” LCD Display is, at best, only marginally costlier than a XGA Projector of ~2500AL. Additional costs of low screen installation costs and lower device loss costs are purely additional.

Picture Quality: Projectors such as a DLP or LCD projector use glass panels to combine red, green and blue colours to create the image. When sitting close to screen, the viewer can see the different colours at the borders of an image, aptly described as the rainbow effect. The rainbow effect takes away from the image quality and can give headaches. High-end projectors have been able to reduce the rainbow effect, however the problem still remains and these high-end projectors cost more. LCD TV or LCD displays do not have rainbow effect issues and the quality of the picture is good at close range.

Rather, projectors cannot compare with the picture quality for an LCD display. The vividness of the colours, the contrast ratio, the colour saturation and image sharpness are much better for an LCD display than a projector. When viewing a projector image, especially in ambient light, the viewer has to dim the lights or close the curtains unless the business has purchased an even more costly higher lumen projector. Not true with LCD displays, as the brightness and colour quality are much better.

Viewing angles used to be an issue with LCD displays but this issue is no longer true. Most LCD displays can be viewed from up to 176 degrees.

Dead or Stuck Pixels: Projectors can suffer from dead pixels and LCD displays can suffer from stuck pixels. Both dead pixels and stuck pixels result in white spots in the projected image. However, the manufacturers of both technologies have worked hard to minimize such issues and in most cases they provide warranty against such issues.

Screen Size: A common thought is that screen size is not an issue for most projectors as the thinking is that the projector image can be made larger by moving the projector away from the screen. This is not true as the image quality deteriorates as the image becomes larger. With projectors, most buyers opt for maximum optimized projector image sizes from 76-inches to 120-inches and the actual working normal projection image used is much smaller. Today, if businesses need a large LCD display in the maximum projector image size, a wide variety of competitive LCD displays can be found in this range.

Portability: Projectors are easy to carry and move around. For a business this could be a value-add or a drawback. LCD displays are durable and can be moved however they are not as light as projectors.

Power Consumption: Projector power consumption varies more from unit to unit, with brighter conference projectors requiring more power than smaller portable projectors. It is hard to compare the two technologies on this performance parameter.

Connectivity: Most LCD displays have more number and different types of ports than projectors. As a result more types of devices can be connected to an LCD display than a projector.

Other Value-Add Features: New features are appearing in LCD displays that could be quite valuable for businesses. For example, touch screen features on LCD displays allow for LCD displays to be used as digital whiteboards where the data written on the display can easily get captured electronically in a text document.

For more information on Sharp’s LCD monitors, check out Sharp’s official LCD monitor site! http://lcddisplay.sbsil.com/

Why is SHARP the LCD Technology Leader for Large TVs and Information Displays?

2008-11-04T22:54:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Sony is looking to buy the LCD panels for its large TVs and information displays from the Osaka LCD plant two-thirds owned by Sharp? (Read: Business Week article: “Sony and Sharp’s LCD Linkup”, 27 February 2008).

It Starts with the Most Advanced LCD Manufacturing Plant: Since developing the world’s first 14-inch color TFT LCD TV in 1988, Sharp has consistently led the industry leading edge LCD technology. Today Sharp’s Kameyama, Japan manufacturing facility is the most advanced LCD panel manufacturing facility in the world. The plant uses 8th –generation technology to produce glass substrates for LCD panels. The new Osaka plant, to be operational by 2010, will use 10th –generation technology to produce the world’s largest LCD panel sheets, measuring 2.8 meters by 3 meters in size where each sheet can produce six 60-inch sets or three 108-inch sets. The LCD panel produced with this technology will be the thinnest and lightest than any LCD panel produced to date.

The Highest Resolution and Industry Leading Picture Quality: The Sharp’s LCD Information Display, with full high definition 1920 x 1080 native resolutions and with flicker-free, full color (16.7 million) TFT active matrix LCDs, delivers dynamic visual impact to audiences with true life color reproduction and crisp text image on a large screen format. Sharp’s monitors offer extensive color adjustment capabilities including black level (brightness), contrast tint, white balance (RGB manual setting) and gamma value. The LCD technology achieves high brightness, high contrast ratio and wide 176 degree viewing angle for large format displays with response times of 6ms or less. And these monitors come with anti-glare and low-reflection properties enabling Sharp monitors to be placed in bright areas where other screens might appear washed out. These full high definition displays are a must for a variety of applications like Conference Room LCD White Boards, Digital Signage, Exhibitions, Education, CAD/CAM Designing, Medical Imaging, Simulation, Process Control, and Stock Exchanges applications. It is also finding increasing use in Video-conferencing to deliver true to life images along with the Dolby 5.1 channel sound.

New Features and Sizes that will WOW! You: Sharp’s monitors can be operated in landscape or portrait modes. Very few competitors provide this feature for large monitors. A Black TFT/Bright Pixel Elimination feature ensures that if a pixel in the LCD monitor fails, it is effectively invisible to the viewer. And Sharp’s 108” LCD monitors are the world’s largest commercially available LCD monitors. In addition to leading the movement toward larger screen sizes, Sharp has met the demand for superior image quality by achieving such “firsts” as a resolution that is four times higher than that of current HD (4096x2160), the world’s highest contrast ratio (1,000,000:1) and the ultimate in fast-motion image processing with 120Hz frame rate conversion and an incredible pixel response time of 4ms.

Operational Efficiency and Reliability that Saves Money: Large screen display customers are experiencing lower operational costs, increased efficiencies and high reliability with Sharp LCD monitors. Sharp closed-box fan-less design protects the screens from dust to maintain the life of the screen

For more information on Sharp’s LCD monitors, check out Sharp’s official LCD monitor site!

What to Consider When Buying an LCD Monitor

2008-11-04T21:01:00.000-08:00

An LCD monitor, or Liquid Crystal Display monitor, is a screen actively sought after as a large format TV screen or an advertising screen as a result of the highest quality images produced on these screens.Top 10 items to consider when buying and LCD Monitor:

Resolution Quality: Some of the key features to consider when buying an LCD monitor are resolution quality and aspect ratio. In the era of Blue-ray and high definition, it is important to buy a Full HD monitor and not go with HD ready.

Number of USB Hubs: These hubs usually come with the display. They prove to be very useful for plugging various media devices directly to the display vs. going through a central medial player.

Pixel Defects: Sometimes, when the same image is left on the screen for long, the pixels get worn out or are dead. This develops a black or white dot on the screen, thus not producing any image in that area. Pixel defects may be as a result of manufacturing defects. Make sure the warranty covers Pixel defects or spotting defects.

Attached Speaker Evaluation: Some monitors come with attached speaker systems. This is usually expensive when compared to the separate speaker system and usually poor quality than a stand alone system. If such an attached speaker system is available in the monitor, then it should be noted that a quick-mute button and readily accessible volume controls should be available in the monitor itself.

Viewing Angle:Most new LCD monitors have wide viewing angles. It is important to consider viewing-angle performance if you plan to use the monitor to view images or movies. The best way to judge is to see the unit in person.

Digital interfaces: Data interfaces are very important for businesses. For example, as a business you would like to remotely manage and control the various LCD monitors. Businesses should strongly consider LCD information display (also called Professional Displays) vs. an LCD TV. The Professional Displays come with the right variety of interfaces. If entertainment and TV show watching are the only concerns then interfaces are less important as most LCD monitors come with adequate interfaces.

Bright Pixel Elimination Feature: New LCD monitors have bright pixel elimination feature that ensures if a failed pixel occurs on the monitor, it is effectively invisible to the viewer. Not a must-have but a good feature to have.

Configuration Programming Software: Included programs that let you configure display settings using your computer keyboard or mouse are a big improvement over struggling with tiny front-panel buttons.

Portrait Capability: Increasingly portrait format is being used for exhibitions and store displays. Be sure to check that the LCD monitor you are buying supports the portrait format. Using landscape format in portrait can result in reducing the life of the LCD monitor. Portrait-capable LCDs, however, often have superior viewing-angle performance. Not all LCD monitors.

Included Cables: Last but not the least item is to check to see what cables are included. Manufacturers often don't provide the digital cable on dual-input models.

Should you buy an LCD Monitor or an LCD TV??

2008-10-31T00:59:00.000-07:00

Lately businesses are buying large format (>32 inch) LCDs for video conferencing, boardrooms, receptions, and for a number of applications such as retail showroom advertising and surveillance. A key question being asked is whether they should buy an LCD monitor (also called LCD information display panel) or an LCD TV. Some people think that an LCD TV is an LCD monitor plus a TV tuner and they are surprised to find that an LCD monitor may cost more than an LCD TV. For them, it just doesn’t make sense.

Here’s what is an LCD monitor and what it is not:

A better image for LCD monitor: An LCD monitor produces higher quality images and has high brightness and contrast levels as well. An LCD TV is likely not going to offer the same resolution as an LCD monitor! This is could be very important when viewing data.

A longer-life more rugged-dust proof system: An LCD monitor is a closed end device with no fans and moving parts. An LCD TV usually has a fan, is not a closed box and may have moving parts. Most LCD monitors can be operated on a 24/7 basis however LCD TVs can not and the numbers of hours that an LCD TV can be operated should be checked. Typically LCD monitor has a life of 50,000 hours or more.

An LCD monitor can be operated 24/7: An LCD TV cannot and built for max 6-8 hour continuous operation.

Are you looking to connect displays together for advertising effect? An LCD Monitor can be easily connected together to create a video wall. The bezel can be removed and the gap between the monitors can be minimal and there are connection outlets in the monitor so that an image can be displayed across monitors to seem as one large image. This cannot be done in an LCD TV. LCD Monitors can be connected in a mirror image format so that the same image appears in all the monitors at the same time.

Lower energy consumption: The energy consumed by LCD monitor is very less and since the electro-magnetic radiations emitted are also less, it is also less hazardous to health.

Monitors can be networked: An LCD Monitor can be connected to the network and remotely controlled and monitored. As a business anyone would want to know which monitors are working and which are not from one central location so that a technician can be dispatched to take care of faulty monitors and this can easily be done incase of an LCD monitor. Further networked LCD monitors allow for remote content management and scheduling as well which is an added advantage for big businesses.

Should you buy an LCD monitor vs. LCD TV? Consider the different variables and make the knowledgeable choice.

For more information on LCD monitors check out LCD monitor sites such as Sharp, NEC and Samsung.

LCD vs. Plasma Large Screens for Businesses: Why LCD wins

2008-10-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

Businesses are rapidly adopting large high definition TVs and monitors for advertising, video conferencing, conference rooms, entertainment and information display, among other uses. We talked with a number of audio visual consultants, system integrators, distributors, vendors and customers and found there was confusion and misunderstanding as to what is better – LCD or Plasma for large screen use for various applications. Understandable, considering the rapidly evolving technologies, numerous choices, the gamut of reviews and the various applications these large screens are being used. We are hoping we can clarify but research the technologies yourself and make the knowledgeable choice.

Quick Introduction to the Technology: Plasma screens use a matrix of plasma gas cells which are charged by electrical voltage to create a picture. LCD screens are made up of liquid crystals placed between two glass plates. Below we compare the two technologies on features important to businesses.

LCD vs. Plasma Comparison: Size
LCDs are generally lighter and thinner as they don't contain the gas-filled chambers and heavy glass panels present in plasmas. Historical wisdom was that larger size screens available were Plasma while smaller size screens were LCDs. Today, commercially, Panasonic has 103” plasma while Sharp offers 108” LCD. Smaller size Plasma screens are currently not available. A draw for large size screens. Smaller size Plasma screens are currently not available. LCD vs. Plasma for Screen Size: A draw for large size screens.

LCD vs. Plasma Comparison: Picture Quality

A number of variables go into picture quality. We will outline them and summarize the findings.

Video Resolution: High resolution is available for both Plasma and LCD screens and resolution is usually comparable for both technologies (1920x1080 is considered as high resolution and available in both Plasma and LCD screens). Lower price models for both Plasma and LCDs have lower resolution and typically for <45” screens they are 1366x768 in resolution or lower. Be sure that you compare apples to apples. Overall: A draw between the two technologies.

Data Resolution: Data resolution for LCDs is much better than for Plasma. The number of pixels per square inch on an LCD display is typically higher than any other display technology including Plasma, so LCD monitors are especially good at displaying large amounts of data. For the same reasons, LCD screens will also be better screens for video gaming than Plasma screens. Plasma displays produce a very jaggy image when viewing static images from computer images. Users may want to consider a commercial version plasma if their application calls for a lot of computer use.

Color Accuracy: Plasma color richness and naturalness will prevail in rooms with lower to normal lighting due to higher contrast ratio. LCD screen contrast ratio is relatively lower, but with anti-glare & brightness features of LCD screens, LCDs will be better in ambient light or in brightly lit rooms. As businesses usually work during the day in ambient light, LCDs are more desirable for most business applications.

Viewing Angle: Plasma manufacturers have made much of their 160° viewing angles. However with new LCDs the view angles are 158°. There is not much difference between the two technologies in viewing angle

Burn-in: There have been concerns with burn-in for Plasma screens especially for static images. However, many Plasma manufacturers have improved their anti-burn in technology. There are no burn-in issues with LCD screens.

LCD vs. Plasma for Picture Quality: LCD wins.

LCD vs. Plasma Comparison: Life of the Screen
LCDs can be operated 24x7 for 50,000+ hours equivalent to 5+ years of continuous viewing. Plasma, on the other hand, utilizes slight electric currents to excite a combination of noble gases (i.e., argon, neon, xenon), which glow red, blue, and/or green. This is an essentially active phenomenon, so the phosphoric elements in plasma displays fade over time. Typically half life is 30,000 hours but some manufacturers state a new half life of 60,000 hours. At half life, the phosphors in a plasma screen will glow half as brightly as they did when the set was new. There is no way to replace these gases; the display simply continues to become dimmer with use. An LCD TV will last as long as its backlight - and in many models the backlight bulbs can be replaced! Since this is nothing more than light passing through a prismatic substrate, there is essentially nothing to wear out in an LCD monitor.

LCD vs. Plasma for Screen Life: LCD wins.

LCD vs. Plasma Comparison: Power consumption
Plasma TVs use more power than LCD – twice as much. Plasmas use electricity to light each and every pixel you see on a screen - even the dark ones. Also, note Plasma TVs get heated up quickly and require fans to cool the TV.However, some manufacturers point out that the power use of a plasma TV is directly dependent on picture brightness, whereas an LCD picture requires a constant source of illumination. The theory goes that plasma should use less power over time. But in reality plasma TVs require significantly more power to achieve the same brightness level as an LCD. This is significant, since your investment on UPS (higher KVA) will have to be much larger to give similar backup to a system using Plasma. No wonder, IBMs & HPs never even considered Plasma for their Laptop screens!

LCD vs. Plasma for Power Consumption: LCD wins.

LCD vs. Plasma Comparison: Lightness and Versatility
Both types of flat-panel screens can be wall-mounted. Plasma sets weigh a lot more than LCD screens (even those of comparable screen-size), so setting them up or moving around could be a problem, especially wall mounting in new houses with stud walling. Further the bezel for LCD screens can be removed and a video wall solution can be created – can be quite valuable for advertising and monitoringLCD vs.

Plasma for Lightness and Versatility: LCD wins.To summarize, while for home video solutions, Plasma may be an OK choice, but for office and professional usage, LCD is definitely the correct choice!

For more information about LCD Monitors visit http://www.sbsil.com/professional-lcd-display.htm