Video Walls

Since a video wall is built from a tiled array of displays, the total resolution of the display surface increases with each display added to the array. This means a video wall can have a much larger display area and far higher resolutions than a single display or projector. Video walls are also much more scalable than projectors since the display surface can be expanded without sacrificing image quality.

In a video wall system, image and video processing is performed by an external video wall controller. As an external component, a controller can leverage far more powerful processing hardware than the processors built into individual displays. These superior processing abilities enable video walls to deliver fluid visual performance and display large amounts of high-resolution content.

Most video walls can provide far more brightness and better contrast ratios than a front projector, so they can be used in environments with windows or overhead lighting. That’s because the display technologies used in video walls – like LCD, LED, and rear projection cubes – are less susceptible to being “washed out” by ambient light. These displays also maintain consistent brightness regardless of their size, while front-projected images become dimmer and blurrier when they are enlarged.

A video wall controller can capture signals in different resolutions and formats from a wide range of devices – like cameras, computers, cable boxes, and more. All of these content sources can then be accessed on a single platform and displayed together on the video wall. A projector or display alone can only connect with certain devices and is unable to display multiple sources simultaneously.

In a video wall system, the controller enables all of the individual display “tiles” to work together as a single canvas. Depending on the video wall software used, the controller can allow a content window to be placed on a single display, stretched across multiple displays, or dragged across the display surface. Multiple content windows can also be placed on a single display.

A video wall controller with a feature-rich software interface can provide a range of tools for managing and manipulating content on the displays. Content windows can be arranged, scaled, zoomed, cropped, and layered. Some software also provides advanced presentation-building features, allowing users to create custom assets and automatic presentations.

Most video wall systems are built from professional-grade components, and some are specifically designed for 24/7, mission-critical environments. Consumer-grade projectors and displays use cheaper components and can’t provide the reliability or resilience of a video wall. Even high-end projectors require frequent maintenance and are vulnerable to vibration, humidity, and ambient light.

Because video walls are designed for maximum reliability and up time, most have no consumable parts and require virtually no maintenance over years of operation. In contrast, projectors demand regular downtime to replace expensive lamps and light engines. While a video wall system may initially cost more than a projector, their low maintenance costs make them a more affordable solution in the long term.

Video walls offer far more flexibility in terms of size and shape than a single display. Depending on the display type and mounting system used, they can be wall-mounted, free-standing, curved, non-rectangular, and even three-dimensional. They can be small enough to be portable or scaled to massive dimensions. This unique versatility enables video walls to be used in an enormous range of environments and use-cases.