If you have ever had the chance to experience a video wall, then you know it can be rather breathtaking. They are, sometimes interactive, informational, promotional, but always eye-catching. If you are designing a new office or remodeling and want to include one of these great walls in your new space, the first step is to understand the different types of video walls available.
LED
LED walls are the first that come to mind because they are the most popular TVs right now. LED walls are comprised of thousands of tiny LED lights that change color depending on the amount of voltage they get. The resolution of an LED picture depends on the size of the pixels and the distance between them, so high-resolution LED video walls tend to be more costly than other options, but it also allows them to conform to different sizes and shapes of walls.
Pros
- It can be formed in any size or shape
- They are durable and can withstand wide ranges of temperature and humidity
- They are seamless, which makes for a better and more immersive picture since there are no bezels or seams connecting the wall
Cons
- Higher initial cost than other options
- The less you pay, the worse the resolution
LCD
The LCD system works by sandwiching a layer of liquid crystal between two flat pieces of glass. When electricity is applied to the crystal, it shifts to allow light to pass through, creating an image. The crystal itself is not illuminated, so it needs to be backlit – ironically, the most common type of backlighting is LEDs. LCD walls are commonly comprised of a collection of smaller flat-panel LCDs mounted together to create a single picture.
Pros
- They are durable and can run 24 hours a day for years without burning out
- Lower cost of ownership than LEDs
- High resolution
Cons
- Since they are multiple panels mounted together, they create visual seams
- If an image is held static for too long, the crystal will “remember” it and not shift again, “burning” the image into the screen
- Won’t form to any wall shape
Rear Projection
This system contains a mirror and projector inside a sealed cube to reduce ambient light. The project shines light onto the mirror, reflecting onto a display screen. The wall is built by stacking these cubes on top of each other to create a single wall. Unfortunately, these heavy cubes cannot be wall-mounted, so they must be placed in a recessed space or lose square footage. The nice thing about these cubes is that they can be arranged in different shapes and create a flat or curved wall which gives you plenty of design options.
Pros
- Practically seamless, with most seams being invisible to the naked eye
- Ability to arrange and rearrange the wall in different shapes and sizes
- Most modern rear projection cubes use LED lights, so they will last a long time
Cons
- A large footprint that may force you to lose square footage
- More vulnerable to ambient light than LCD or LED screens
- Limited viewing angle, so people on the edges of the wall may not see the picture as clearly
What Suits Your Workplace?
These three video wall options all have different means of producing the same result. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, so it comes down to your space, budget, and design preferences. The LED wall may be the most expensive, but it gives you the most options, while the rear projector gives you a seamless picture, but you risk losing valuable floor space. The LCD screen gives you a clearer picture and is budget-friendly, but it doesn’t give you the size and shape options that the other two do. No matter what you choose, a video wall is a sure-fire way to capture attention, whether for corporate use, education, entertainment, or advertising. Contact us now to learn more about which types of video walls suit your business needs and can be incorporated into your workplace design.
