Video Wall Controller Software: VigiControl Versus eSign 20

Video wall, media wall or data wall – are all ways to refer to large electronic screens that are used to display videos, data or images as a presentation. Usually more than one display device is used as a tile in a matrix that forms a single screen. A special video processor is used to scale an image or video or any text data or multiple images throughout the logical screen. This kind of display is used to present a higher resolution, larger and brighter picture to multiple people in a same place at the same time. Video walls are used for traffic and security management, data display of the stock market, elaborate trade shows displays, data presentation in conference room or simply for advertisements.

Multiple variations of software have been developed to enable these special display devices to work correctly. Vigicontrol Data Wall Controller Software (Product Code VC-SPCX) and eSign Digital Signage & Multi-Media Software-eSign 20 (Product Code SPCX-ES20) are two of them. The purpose of this article is to compare and contrast the two types of software on the basis of usefulness, price, performance etc. enabling you to decide which might work better for your project.

Similarities:

First, we depict the similarity between the two pieces of software. Both Vigicontrol and eSign 20 possess some similar qualities. These are mentioned below:

Utility:

Both software programs are used for similar purposes: market applications, hospitality, retail advertising, information display, event scheduling displays, factory communications, museums, corporate display and communications, food service menus, control room monitoring, church information display and art gallery display.

Operating system:

Both run on Windows 2000/Xp and up.

Network facility:

Both VigiControl and eSign can be operated remotely on any PC via a network connection. VigiControl displays the desktop of the Video Wall Server in use so that you can organize and launch your PC application over a network on another PC or on local machine. You can access VigiControl server via Local Area Network. In the case of eSign, network or local content files run as a standalone system or network operation with eSign Site Manager.

Number of IRP:

Vigicontrol software uses application Split Screen function to divide an active RGB/DVI window into sub-windows.  A maximum number of 16 sub-windows can be created. Also eSign supports up to 20 on-screen IRPs, but recommends for 1-16 displays. Though eSign 20 claims to be 20 IRP, it actually recommends a maximum of 16. So, there is no difference between the two pieces of software.

Still and video picture

Both Vigicontrol and eSign support industry standard formats for still image display and video playback.

Windows screen labeling:

VigiControl’s software provides Windows screen labeling. Also eSign offers you a multi-mode text banner player.

Differences:

Price:

There is major difference between the two pieces of software, which may be a discriminate factor in your purchase. That is price of the software. Vigicontrol sells at $1099.99, and eSign 20 sells at $1199.99.

Project Manager:

eSign 20 provides project manager for daily, weekly and specific date scheduling and background audio player whereas Vigicontrol does not mention such facility.

Resize and position application windows:

You can use VigiControl to interactively move, size and position application windows and control. VigiControl also has a guide and grid function to aid the positioning of windows.

Control of VxSwitch cards:

Vigicontrol provides control of VxSwitch cards in stand-alone mode.

Screen order:

VigiControl’s software provides a screen-ordering utility.

Save and re-call layout templates:

VigiControl allows you to save specific wall layouts as *.lay files enabling them to be re-called when required.

Bezel Masking:

VigiControl provides Bezel Masking facility.

Creston control:

VigiControl’s software supports Creston controllers.

Command line interface:

VigiControl ‘ssoftware has command line interface for custom applications.

Split Windows:

VigiControl’s software has Split Windows facility for Security and CCTV Systems and VigiControl now offers the ability to split RGB and DVI capture windows into separately cropped and scaled sub windows.

The cropping and on screen display settings for sub-windows can be individually modified and then saved as presets. Inputs can be split into a maximum of 16 separate sub windows. This is useful for applications where specific areas of a captured input need to be individually displayed and controlled, such as security and medical imaging systems.

Each sub-window will display a cropped portion of the captured source.  When split, the sub-windows will all be the same size and occupy the same total screen size as the window being split.

The sub-windows can then be re-sized and cropped using the application Windows properties sheet. Each sub-window can be positioned anywhere on the display wall.

Vigicontrol’s software is ideal for use in CCTV and security control rooms.

Minimizing Video Gaps:

If a video overlay is displayed across multiple screens that have wide casings around the edges, strange effects maybe seen in the video images. Diagonal lines appear broken and circles appear elongated. Parts of the video are lost in the gaps.

Vigicontrol’s software allows the video to spread across the gaps between the screens so that the lines are straight and the circles remain circular.

Data input Labels:

The video overlay input label allows you to allocate specific labels; each input can be given more than one label. Depending on how many graphics cards you have installed will determine how many input labels you can create. The output of the rendering system or source PC is captured by the EMS XtremeRGB capture card and displayed as a single window.

From the above discussion, it could be decided that Vigicontrol’s software is more enriched with versatile facilities need for the optimum utility of the software.

You can find this software here:

VigiControl: http://www.multi-monitors.com/product_p/vc-spcx.htm

eSign:  http://www.multi-monitors.com/product_p/spcx-es20.htm

Video Walls in Piccadilly Circus

Advertisement is an important part in the growth of any business, large or small. The marketing maxim is, “The more you spend, the more you earn.” Of course, that money must be spent wisely, too.  So, businesses are always searching for the newest and most effective ways to reach their customers.  There are multiple advertising techniques available to businesses today and the question that must be answered is, “which medium is most effective?”

In the rapidly changing postmodern era, people spend more time away from home than ever before. As a result, marketers must think deeply to find ways to maximize the attention of their target audience and potential customers. One technique that has been successful is the use of billboards, but not just any type of billboard. These innovative signs are “moving walls” made of LED screens which stand out in the minds of consumers. One key to successfully using video walls is choosing a site where the maximum number of people can see it; Piccadilly Circus is one of the best places in the world for that to happen.

Piccadilly Circus, located in the West End of London, is the gateway to London’s premier landmarks and a hub of multiple businesses and entertainment venues.  It is surrounded by shopping malls, criterion Theatre, London Pavilion, and the Shaftesbury Memorial, with its unforgettable statue, Anteros.  Needless to say, Piccadilly Circus is a major tourist attraction and its being featured in videos, movies and postcards shows that it has reached iconic status.

With such large crowds passing through Piccadilly Circus each day, it is natural that the attention of marketers was drawn there.  The first electronic advertisement appeared there in 1910. The size and scope of billboards at Piccadilly has changed over time. For instance, in the late 1960’s nearly all the buildings were covered with neon signs and advertisements.  In the 1990’s, Coke placed a digital billboard there with images projected by six LCD video projectors. The result was moving images that were able to change with the weather. Later, the advertisement area was reduced to a single building at the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Glasshouse Street.  Piccadilly Lite was added in 2007, with the purpose of increasing the advertising space by using the same screen for multiple brands whose ads rotate being shown. Piccadilly Lite is available for both long and short term lease.  In 2012, the Piccadilly Circus has six illuminated screens.

Some of the most successful businesses in the world have advertised on these screens including, Coca-Cola, Samsung, Sanyo, Kodak, McDonald’s and many more.  Companies all over the globe understand the importance of this hub in gaining access to a maximum number of people. Though the cost for advertisement on the screens of Piccadilly Circus is high, so are the returns.

NEC makes banded video walls or screens with an ultra-bright, professional grade panel that creates an entrancing effect on viewers. The display of these screens is 130% brighter than previous generations of NEC screens, while consuming only 37% more power.  These screens come with Digital Technology Suite, which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor displays.

NEC’s Tile Matrix technology simplifies the process of setting up video walls. With easily integrated third-party components, including, adjoining speakers, digital tuners and stands building video walls is a breeze.  NEC also has a user-friendly wall calibrator.

NEC’s next generation of screens, the X series, includes the X463UN. This impressive screen is designed for 24/7 operation, which is in high demand. The X463UN is a direct LED-backlit LCD display, which allows for improved vividness, reduced power consumption, and mercury-free components. The display supports Intel’s Open Pluggable Specification (OPS).

The X463UN includes the following features:

• A direct LED backlighting spring, which allows even allocation of luminosity across the section, resulting in improved standardization from bezel-to-bezel.
• A professional-grade LCD panel with highly developed thermal fortification and sealed panel design for the most stringent digital signage manufacturing requirements.
• Full 1080p high-definition resolution
• Brightness of 500 cd/m² Contrast ratio of 3500:1 Power using up of 120W
• Chock-a-block digital connectivity with Display Port In/Out, DVI-D In/Out and HDMI
• Network Control and communiqué through RS232C or LAN, which allows the highest level of isolated display administration
• Tile Matrix technology for setting up to 100 displays on video walls
• Built-in expansion slot, which allows for seamless integration of NEC-branded or Intel OPS-certified cards
• Optional color calibration clarification, which ensures color and brightness homogeny across multiple screens, creating a wholly matched image in lined environments
• Carbon footprint meter, which calculates and tracks carbon reserves
• ENERGY STAR^® 5.1, which meets stern energy effectiveness course of action set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy

“Video walls are making bold statements for the organizations deploying them, and these large-scale canvases are growing in numbers and complexity,” said Keith Yanke, NEC’s director of product marketing for large screen displays and projectors. “The NEC X463UN display brings reduced power consumption and improved edge-to-edge brightness through direct LED backlighting, while also providing a decreased active-area-to-active-area gap and multiple digital loop-through connections.”

The X463UN will be available in March 2012 at an estimated retail price of $5,149.  The display ships with a 3-year parts and labor warranty, including the backlight.

The days of using paper charts for day trading are long gone.  We now use computers to manage day trading, giving adequate space to organize data and promptly find required information.  The result is that trading is much easier and faster than it was in the past.

Day trading requires the gathering and analyzing of data quickly; but, switching between or continuously maximizing and minimizing windows or applications is time consuming.  The solution is to use multiple monitors to create more work space so that all the data can be viewed at the same time.

Usually, only two monitors are needed for beginner traders. Trading platforms can be kept on the main monitor and the traders’ charts can be displayed on the other.  As the trading business flourishes, it is wise to invest in more screen space, maybe even a video wall. Video walls consist of multiple monitors that make giant display screens. The important thing to remember is that the greater the volume of trading, the greater the need for screen space.

When speed is important, as it is in day trading, accessing information easily is of the utmost importance.  Multiple screen technology enables day traders to work precisely and proficiently.

How Airlines Use Digital Signs

Technology has spread its wings and exceeded our expectations by making the impossible possible. The computer, with its humble  beginnings as a device used for calculations, has changed the world. One century ago, who would have believed that communication from pole to pole using a device that can be carried in the pocket would be feasible? Or who could conceive of watching, from their home, events taking place thousands of miles away?  Today, computers are a part of almost everything we do.

The airline industry is one example where computers have been revolutionary. Computers can supervise many devices at the same time with efficiency. This is how video walls, series of monitors placed together to form one big screen, are controlled.  These video walls, along with other types of digital signage, are used to communicate important messages to passengers. For example, unexpected flight delays and cancellations can be posted. Many people, distracted by the noise and crowds inside the airport, may see these announcements on a large screen when they might not have heard an announcement over a speaker system. Passengers outside the airport can receive these notifications of schedule changes before they even leave their cars. By utilizing digital screens, the management of airports has become smoother.

The computer, with its extreme and seemingly limitless advancement, is one of the greatest inventions of the modern era.  Not only does the computer make what was absurd in the past achievable, it has changed the way we communicate at the airport, making the experience of flight even more fantastic.

Within the last few years, video walls have successfully fused into the main stream with distinctive usage such as Government, Military, Security, and Network Operations Centers. Video walls can be found at airports, trade stores, shopping malls, stadiums, commercial lobbies, conference rooms, broadcast TV, military, movie theatres, casinos, and tradeshows. The reason for their extensive usage is because lower display hardware costs, displays with smaller bezel width and better picture quality, it’s easier to install and configure,  and most importantly, its color and brightness calibration that helps achieve standardization from screen to screen has improved.
So, branding, advertising, amusement, or communications through video walls has become relatively inexpensively.

With the advancements in technology, there will certainly be some remarkable video walls being used in the near future.  NEC has merged with a number of manufacturers offering bundled solutions that make using video walls easier and less expensive.
There are LCD screens amid 7.3mm, 6.5mm, and up-to-the-minute ones with only 5.7mm pooled bezel width.  Usage of LED Backlight on large set-up displays will give screens with even minor bezels, HD resolution, better video quality and incomparable screen-to-screen color uniformity. Configuring a basic 2×2 video wall these days is moderately trouble-free. A 1×2 up to 5×5 (or even 10×10) can be set of connections depending on construct and model.  So, showing one large HD image across the full video wall is comparatively effortless undertaking.  Specialized builds are also obtainable now that these manufacturers have been premeditated to make setting up (screen-to-screen placement) and servicing video walls much easier, safer, and more cost effective.  

If you’re a trader or in any industry really, you probably have caught wind of the trend of using more than one computer screen with your computer.  This is easier than you think and depending on what you are already using, it’s probably not as expensive as you think.  But the advantage of using a 3-monitor computer is every bit as great as you’ve probably read.   There have been lots of numbers thrown around, but a university in Utah actually did a study and concluded that yes, if you use multiple monitors you will save a lot of time and your productivity will increase.    In this article we’ll discuss what you need to setup a multiple monitor computer, how much it costs and more.

There are several components that you’ll to turn your single monitor computer into a 3-monitor computer.  But first and foremost you’ll need to check out your computer and make sure that it’s powerful enough to handle multiple monitors.  That means you need to look at 3 main things, your processor, your RAM and your graphics card.  Let’s talk a little bit about how you check each of those components.  For this article we’re going to go over Windows 7, but if you’re using an earlier version of Windows or Mac OS, I’ll point you in the right direction as well.   First let’s figure out what processor you’re using.

1. Click the Windows “Globe” aka, the Start Button
2. Right Click Computer
3. Go to Properties

This will give some key information.  First and foremost, it will tell you what addition of Windows 7 you are running, whether you are running 32-bit or 64-bit, but most importantly it will tell you exactly what processor you are using how much RAM you have installed.  To run multiple monitors, especially a 3-monitor computer, you’ll to have at least 4 GBs of RAM and it’s recommended that you have 2.53 GHz processor or faster, although plenty of people are running 3 screens on the older, slower Core2Duo processors.  On a side note, if you’re using the 32-bit operating system, you computer may only recognize about 3.25 GBs of RAM, which is still plenty for setting up three screens.

Next let’s look at your graphics card.  You’ll need a multi-headed graphics card to setup your multiple monitor computer properly.  The good news is that your computer was built within the last few years, and then odds are you already have one of these.  Multi-headed means is that there are multiple outputs on the card, so that you can hook up multiple screens to your computer.  You can determine if your graphics card is multi-headed simply by checking the number of video outputs, either VGA or DVI.  If you don’t have one already, here’s one that I like.  Of course you don’t have to get this one though, there many available and they range in cost from $100-thousands for some of the more advanced cards.  Spending somewhere between $275 and $500 will give you a high quality video card though, powerful enough to handle multiple screens.

On the flip side of things, if you don’t want to install a new graphics card, there are other options available as well. You can buy an adapter for your computer that will give you the same benefits.  One that I like is called the Matrox DualHead2Go.  This adapter will give you an extra 2 monitor outputs.  They also make an adapter that can handle up to 3 additional monitors.  The beauty of these adapters is that require very little know-how and you don’t have to open up your computer to install them.  They are simply plug and play.

You also need to buy the actual extra monitors.  There are a few different types available these days, such as VGA LCD, DVI LCD, VGA and DVI LED and so on and so forth.  Most people are going to go with LCD or LED because of both cost and quality.  Almost no one is still using old CRT VGA monitors though because they are big, bulky and have extremely low quality.  You can by a 3-monitor array here that includes a stand to help line them up horizontally.  The cool thing about an array like this is both from a tidiness perspective and a space perspective this is going to help you conserve.  Another advantage is the ability to speak with a professional before you order, so that you know you’re buying the right thing.

Yet another option, if indeed your computer isn’t up to par is to buy a computer that’s already designed to handle multiple monitors.  There are a few companies out there that make computers designed for multiple monitors.  Here’s one.  You can find them for around $1000, but you will need to purchase your array separately.  The advantage to doing this is that it will allow you to get a computer that is already configured, saving you the trouble of having to do it yourself.  You’ll also know that it’s already up to par with the correct components, meaning there’s less to think about.

Once you’ve purchased your computer, you can setup your multiple monitors within Windows 7 fairly easily.  According to Microsoft, here’s how:

1. Open Screen Resolution by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, and then, under Appearance and Personalization, clickingAdjust screen resolution.
2. Click the drop-down list next to Multiple displays, click Extend these displays, and then click OK.

That’s it now you’re all set.  The new monitors should light up with the additional screen space.  You can also control how Windows handles the monitors from here, for example you can tell Windows to duplicate your main desktop, extend your main desktop or other custom configurations.  So depending on what you are trying to accomplish, you can set this up however you would like.

Hopefully you’ve found this article helpful.  Setting up a 3-monitor computer isn’t hard and now you know how!

It is time to improve your gaming experience on your PC, and one way to do that is to start dual monitor gaming.  This can be an exciting way to add additional fun to your gaming experience.  In this article we’re going to discuss some of the most popular games that people are playing on multiple monitors, and we’ll also discuss some of the basics that you need to know before you hook up your multiple monitor gaming computer.   It’s highly likely that you’ll find that it’s much easier and significantly less expensive than you think and it will add a new layer of excitement to your gaming experience.

There are quite a few popular games that are becoming popular with multiple monitors.  It’s pretty much a given though, that the most popular game to play on multiple monitors is Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X, which is a real world flight trainer that can be played by anyone, including a novice.  What’s so cool about FSX is that it has many real aircraft, so often new pilots will learn the basics of the cockpit on FSX, long before they ever set foot in a real plane or jet.  Using 3 or more monitors to play FSX creates an ultra real experience, which is why multiple monitors is so popular with this game.

Another fairly popular game that’s played on multiple screens is iRacing.com.  Again, it’s a simulator and has practical application in the real world.  In fact, it’s so realistic that some of the best-known drivers in NASCAR and Indy use iRacing.com to train when they aren’t able to get to a real track.  The tracks within iRacing are accurate down to the millimeter, which makes it’s a super effective tool for new drivers, or drivers that want to learn a new track.  It’s a great game and lots of fun for anyone though; you don’t have to be an actual racecar driver to love it.  Most of the gamers and racecar drivers that love iRacing have a dual monitor or better setups because they create a more realistic environment.

Do you already know what you need to setup multiple monitors for gaming?  If you do you can stop reading right here.  Otherwise, keep reading and we’ll talk about the specifications you need to get your dual monitor gaming computer setup.  First and foremost, you need a video card with at least 2 outputs.  Before you buy anything, check and make sure that you don’t already have this.  Second, you need additional screens.  Third, you need a computer that is fast enough to handle the processing.  If you’ve already built a gaming computer, chances are that it’s already up to par, but make sure you have enough RAM and a fast enough processor, those things are going to be key!

Hopefully this article helped you setup or at least decide that you need a multi-monitor computer.  You’ll appreciate all the benefits of having additional monitors, as it takes your gaming to the next level.

Many day traders, FOREX traders and business people that use multiple monitors tend to travel a lot for business, pleasure or both.  A problem that has developed though, is that packing up your multiple monitor computer is a lot is pretty much impossible.  Even worse is trying to install the same software, along with all your current files on to a laptop just for traveling.  There may be a couple of solutions available, but probably the least expensive and easiest option is to use a laptop that can power multiple screens, but can also be backed up for your trips.  One popular model of computer that does just that is the ASUS A53E-TS52.

Asus is a Taiwanese computer company that has been around since 1990.  They got their start manufacturing components such as motherboards and video cards, but have since moved into the desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile markets.  They’ve earned a pretty solid reputation for delivering on both quality and cost/value.  In fact, if you own a Dell, HP or Apple product, chances are you probably using an ASUS component.   Globally, ASUS is worth around 1.3 billion dollars, making them one of Asia’s top 10 biggest companies.

So what about the ASUS A53E-TS52?   Well, much like a lot of their products, this laptop is an extremely high quality laptop, that exceeds user expectations on both performance and cost.  Stock it comes with a couple of features that make it stand above most.  First and foremost it offers the 2^nd Generation of Intel’s Core i5-2450M 2.5 Ghz Dual-Core processor.  The i5 is a powerful processor; in fact it’s powerful enough that it’s the choice graphic designers, Photoshop wizzes, movie editing pros, recording engineers and many more.  It also includes 6 GB of DDR3 RAM, which should exceed any need when powering dual or triple screens.  Including as well are the following:

• 750 GB hard drive
• CD/DVD Burner
• Blu-Ray Player
• 802.11 b/g/n wireless card,
• SD, SDHC, MS, MS PRO, and MMC Card Reader
• 15.6-inch HD LCD Display

Combine this laptop with a DualHead2Go or TripleHead2Go from Matrox, and it’s a great multiple monitor computer system.  What are DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go you ask?  These are adapters that allow you to hook up additional monitors to your computer with installing additional video cards or hardware.  In fact, they are so convenient that many people use them for their desktops as well, just to avoid having to open the case and install extra hardware.  But they work fantastically for laptops, and are probably the easiest solution.

So what about price for hooking up a multiple monitor computer to the ASUS A53E-TS52?  Well it’s not as much as you might think.  The ASUS A53E-TS52 is going to run you around $1000, which isn’t bad considering what you’re getting.  If you want to hook up multiple screens, then the adapters mentioned above are $269 and $379 respectively, with a few different models available.  The primary differences that you’ll see in price are a) the number of outputs and b) VGA vs. DVI.  Which one you decide to buy is really up to you and depends solely on your needs, such as what you’ll be using the computer for.

Finally, if you plan to use multiple monitors with your new ASUS, you’ll need to purchase a monitor array- that is a stand that holds multiple monitors.  These vary anywhere from two screens, up to 3 for your laptop.  Cost wise, they are start around $500 and can go up to over $1000.  Again the arrangement and number of monitors that you need will vary, depending on what you want to do with your system.

Hopefully this gave you a little bit of insight into the usefulness of the ASUS A53E-TS52 Laptop.   It’s a great machine that is designed by a fantastic company.  If you combine this machine with the correct components you will have both a fantastic machine for home and for travel at an extremely reasonable rate.   Overall the value is definitely there and this is the machine to get if you are looking for a multiple monitor computer that you can easily transport as well.

Video walls used in conference room setting

The title of this article might give the impression that this is about a huge projector in a corporate business room, just like the old days. But instead we’re going to talk about an emerging trend in conference rooms, a trend that you’ve likely noticed, video walls and how they are used for various purposes in the corporate setting. There are several other names which are used to represent the word video wall, such as, data wall, and media wall etc. a video wall therefore is simply a large display which displays an images or video in a presentation format. Unlike other displays, these are typically not one complete display devices as they are comprised of several other displays arranged together in such a way that they can work together as one giant screen, or as multiple smaller screens. The image is scaled into each of these screens according to their respective resolutions by using a special video-processing device.

There is no restriction to the particular size of the display device, as it could vary from as small as a 4 inch direct view LCD screen or even be as huge as a 120 inches front, or possibly even a rear projection device. The size of this display device depends on the overall size of the video wall, which is to be made. In the case of LED based display walls they are made up of 0.5 mm bezel discrete LEDs in order to denote each pixel on the screen. A common question is asked about display walls regarding the wisdom behind creating large logical displays according to the technique described above. The reason for this is because it provides the ability to have a brighter, bigger screen, at a greater resolution without compromising on inherent redundancy, when compared to other types of image display devices.

When planning to buy a video wall for any purpose more attention should be given to its display, as quality of the display is directly proportional to its viewing ability. As mentioned earlier, of the various kinds of devices that could be used for display walls, including, CRT, narrow mullion LCDs, general LCDs etc. Basically the particular display device that is used determines the image quality of the video wall. There are three devices that comprise the display of a video wall, and the two main technologies, which play a major role in the design of a video wall, comprise of the direct view plasma or LCD screen and the rear projection cube. With the advent of newer technologies entering the market everyday, even the cost of LCD display units have decreased in price drastically, however it is quite difficult to make a LCD display wall mainly due to the fact that it is incredibly difficult to align the monitors in such a way that they form a matrix with the multiple displays as LCD displays have a considerably huge border.  The border around the screen of a LCD display is known as the bezel, and while tiling each of these screens together these bezels creates a gap in between the entire image. The term used to describe these gaps is either mullions or transoms. As a result it becomes very inconvenient for the viewer to get a clear view of the image or video depicted on the video wall. The reason for which residential LCD TV sets do not require any maintenance at all is because they have only one screen and less life expectancy. This is yet another disadvantage for the use of LCDs in video walls because when they have a poor life expectancy it would also require regular replacement of displays as well, and when replacing them the entire array must be organised with respect to the other screens so that the picture quality is maintained.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article about the types of display devices available, the rear projection video wall offers the benefit of greater life expectancy as well as easy serviceability with respect to the typical LCD or plasma display units. The reason why these are better is because light that passes via the LCD is initially projected from the back, and it is then filtered to its respective colour (i.e white light, black light etc). It is because of this process that viewing an image is more precise as compared to a flat screen as they do not have a large impact in the formation of the image from the human eye.

Accordingly, you should note when creating a video wall for any given situation, that in addition to factors such as budget, the display type and organization requirement should be given due attention as well. It is because of this that its very important to ensure that professional guidance is obtained prior to the design of your particular video wall to insure a clear image every time. Failing to do so can result in using either wrong configuration of display panels or using wrong display panels itself for the creation of the video wall.

LED displays are becoming more commonly used for this purpose.  They tend to encompass all of the positives (bright, clear picture) without the negatives that you might encounter using an LCD.  The best part is that LEDs tend to have smaller bezels, are lightweight and out last projection screens, projectors, LCDs and plasmas.    This means you get all of the benefits without the negatives.

Government Usage of Digital Signage Technology

Digital signs are altering the way we perceive everything around us- from fast food menus, to billboards, to weather displays, and to sporting events.  Digital signs give advertisers the ability to make quick changes immediately.  Technology is changing fast, and there is no time for delay. For instance, rotating billboards is almost as effortless as a push of a button; shifting menu items and specials can be done in seconds. One of the initial uses of digital signs was in the 1990’s; these signs were first appearing in airports.  Airports began using digital signs for a range of activities, but the most noticeable was the use of digital signs for displaying the arriving and departing flights.  The benefit of it was that it could be updated almost instantaneously.

More recently, video walls are being used in billboards that have the utility of rotating messages.  Another attribute of these billboards is that they can be used for Public Service Announcements such as “Amber Alert.”

Government agencies are always on the sentry for ways to draw out and develop their budgets.  One way to do this is through the use of multiple monitor computer systems.  Government agents are pretty much always narrow in what they can do.  Budget being one of the biggest factors, multiple monitor computer systems are very helpful for them to help keep the costs down as well as increase efficiency at a good level.

The U.S. government civil service department has ongoing multiple monitor usage in their offices.  Their aim is monitor the way their business is being operated.  The idea is to help drive ambassadorial philosophy and perk up the world more professionally.

Another zone within the government that has started using multiple monitors is in schools.  Schools are not as safe and sound as they were before, so the necessity for high technology precautions is a must.  That is why we are seeing school security systems use multiple monitor video walls to help maintain the safety of the students.  It is sad that schools have had to route to such measures, but it is reassuring to know that the technology is accessible to help keep people safe.

Furthermore, multiple monitor computer systems are fairly widespread in our defense department. Both abroad and domestically, the military uses video walls as part of a highly developed system to help keep this country safe.  The technology that they use is comparable to what you would find in the school systems video walls; nevertheless, they often use multiple monitor systems for tracking, undercover work, and
weaponry.  For an example, remotely-flown Drones are power-driven by multiple monitor computers; NASA incorporates multiple monitor technology, etc. The rationality for this agency to use multiple monitor system is to improve their working efficiency. Multiple monitor systems provide ample space to work. A number of screens aligned to each other give a much bigger area to work in than would be possible otherwise. The screen-to-screen uniformity makes the job easier!

The multiple monitors advance government by escalating the quantity of work that they can do during any specified day.  This can be the solution for a government office being able to stay within budget and activate at full aptitude for the whole year.  Governments have to be vigilant about how they maneuver.

If the government can use this efficiently and learn how to run a better machine, then other industries could almost undoubtedly benefit from the supplementary productivity tools.

Today, when governments are managing, multiple monitor technology recognition can be anticipated.  Fortunately, the technology is currently improving at such a rate that we have seen enormous increases in the capability to enhance functionality of these systems. For example, government broadcast agencies use a manifold monitor control room to monitor incoming and outgoing feeds.

This technology has been built in many diverse types of government systems.  Another chief system where this technology has been integrated is our defense systems.  Government Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines all use multiple monitor systems for an array of purposes, which include tracking, spying, monitoring, recording, and weapons systems.  These multiple monitor control rooms save American lives by allowing the military to activate tenuously.

Weather monitoring and recording stations also depend mostly on multiple monitor computer systems.  During earthquakes, storms, or other calamitous events, the U.S. government has weather and natural disaster stations that record the details of these events to help others prepare.  They use multiple monitors to examine large amounts of statistics.

One more vicinity where multiple monitor systems play a key responsibility in government is in mass transit control stations.  The capability to monitor directions of trains is absolutely indispensable to the health and safety of everyone on board.  Multiple monitor systems help make that plausible by making certain the operators and controllers can see every portion of what’s going on during their transfer.

Additionally, electricity, water, sewer, and cable are managed by their providers with the help of multi-monitor computers to make sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

UltraMon:  A Smart Multi-Monitor Utility

(found here: http://www.multi-monitors.com/product_p/ultramon.htm)

The presentation of particular projects affects the perception and the outcome of that project. In large business settings, there is a need to display large amounts of data on the screen all at the same time. This often leads to a messy situation in which too much data is present in a very tight space, or some of the important data has to be minimized in order to deal with the other pieces of data. This results in a reduction of efficiency and creates a hindrance. The solution to that is to purchase UltraMon. UltraMon is multi-monitor software that can help you spread your data over a number of monitors. The main difference between UltraMon and similar applications is the sheer increase in performance that the unique software provides. UltraMon provides multi-tasking for upwards of ten monitors. There are many other unique and powerful features related to UltraMon that need to be mentioned.

Superior Window Management

UltraMon takes window management to a whole new level, and it has added comfort to the technological advancement. When you install the UltraMon software for your office, you will see that additional buttons will appear in the title bar of the window. This will help you navigate your window through the different monitors that you may be operating. You can send the window to a specific monitor. You can drag the window though the monitors by simply dragging like it were a single screen. You can also maximize it on all screens. This helps when the file is large in size like a spread sheet.

Efficient Taskbar

The UltraMon software embeds a useful function is the software that results in a more efficient task bar that can be used to manipulate each of the application windows in the most efficient way possible. There are two types of taskbar options that are available. The first is the standard task bar that allows for the handling of only those applications that are currently running on the screen. The second option is the “mirror” task bar. This task bar holds the applications of all the monitors, and it allows for easy handling of the application on the monitor.

Easy Shortcuts

UltraMon introduces smart and easy-to-use shortcuts for the frequent user. This allows easy interaction of the user with the software, giving the most useful outcome. When you right click, you also see the options that will allow you to open a specific program in a specific monitor. However, if you choose to do this more professionally, then you also have the choice to choose a specific window for a specific software every time you open it. This lets you customize the way your monitors operate and gives you more control of your presentation.

Display Profiles

UltraMon allows the user to create and store multiple display profiles that help you better maintain the outlook of the monitors and the display settings of your presentation. You have the control to choose the setting of the monitor from your master monitor, who gives you a string grasp over your presentation and business meeting. You can adjust the resolution, the wallpaper, the theme, and the wallpaper of any monitor by just a few clicks from the master monitor.

Desktop Wallpaper

Presenting is the art of giving data and information in a structured form that appeals as a beautiful piece of art to the listener. This fact has been well understood by the professionals at UltraMon. This software gives you more control over the outlook and the aesthetics of your presentation by adding this special wallpaper feature. You can choose stretched landscape wallpaper and choose to spread it across all of the monitors in a row. This gives the presentation a feeling of coherent action which leaves a beneficial effect.

Screen Savers

Often in a presentation with a multi-monitor setup, an embarrassing situation can be faced when one of the monitors turns blank or starts displaying a screen saver while all the other monitors are on or the situation where all the monitors are blank but there is a monitor in an awkward position that is still on. This awkward situation can easily be avoided by using UltraMon. The screen saver feature of the software allows the user to connect the screen savers of multiple monitors so that all the monitors turn off and turn on at the same time accounting for visual pleasure.

Monitor Mirroring

Mirroring, also called cloning, is a very important and useful feature offered by UltraMon. It is the process when the contents of a single monitor are copied on to one or more than one monitors and shown.  This may seem useless at first, but it carries a lot of applications in the real world. Cloning may be used when a presentation is being given to a huge audience where one screen is with the presenter while a second giant screen is with the audience. It can also be used during a meeting when a person in charge of the meeting is displaying a piece of information to all the persons with a monitor or while giving a tutorial to a class of students with their own screens.

Open Source Scripting

The UltraMon is a very useful and powerful application yet it is still open source for all the users, making it one of the best applications out there in the market. You can easily edit the source code to include more features that you think improve the overall usage quality of the application.

Other Value-Added Features

The list of the powerful features of UltraMon does not end here. UltraMon carries a huge range of features that easily make it one of the best, if not the best, multi-monitor utility available. You have the choice to restore the previous arrangements of the icons, disable and enable secondary monitors, and change the primary monitor with just a simple click.

Common Uses for Multiple Monitors and Video Walls

Preparation is fundamental in nearly every profession, but especially in the security industry.  Having the right equipment for this industry in particular is absolutely essential. It is indeed the right equipment that will enhance your work. A multiple monitor video wall unit is very a useful tool that security professionals have begun to utilize. Video walls enable security professionals to insure all sections of the premises are well monitored and allow security pros to monitor the happenings in real time.

They can be mounted on a wall or setup using special stands and mounted to tables. There are quite a few alternatives when it comes to video walls. There are a number of size combinations for example the 2×2, 4×4, and 3×3. These grids have finite number of monitors. You can have these sizes customized as per your security needs. The customization aspect makes it easier to work with.

Video walls are typically comprised of multiple monitors that are normally mounted side by side to form a single unit. This unit can be vary greatly in size, with some video walls being literally as big as a small home. Those monitors used to create video walls have a small bezel- which now days is often on a few millimetres in size (the inactive part of the screen that looks like a frame is called the bezel.) These screens create what appears to be a seamless picture.  From that set, each screen displays only a section of the whole video.

Video walls were very expensive until recently. However, the cost has been reduced significantly. This has been attributed to the fact that the technology has improved and become cheaper. In addition to buying a video wall for your company, renting is now an option for the video walls as well. One advantage to renting a video wall for your event is that you need little technical knowledge, as the rental most likely includes setup before and breakdown after your event. This may be a good option if you don’t think you’ll be using your video wall frequently. Another reason to opt for video walls on a rental basis is because you will have access to the newest and best video screens on the market.

Another major reason companies have begun using video walls for their displays is the interactive aspect, boosting the attention span of busy clients by providing powerful imagery and stunning, high impact wording.   This means it’s significantly easier to grab the attention of your potential clients, whether you are at a trade show or in your office.

16 Great Day Trading Tips

Day trading is a popular career choice for a number of reasons, but likely the number one reason is because day trading is a career that anyone with a computer, an Internet connection and a little know-how can do.  However, it takes a bit more than that to be truly successful.  In fact, tens of thousands of people try every year to break into day trading, but are unsuccessful and end up going back to work for someone else.  It is because of this that I wanted to share with you 10 amazing tips that will help you become a better day trader that is more likely to make money and be successful.

Preparation

Before starting the trading day, it’s important to draw up a trading plan.  This is going to allow you to focus more easily on your daily goals.  The only real secret to this step is that you need to follow your discipline and execute your trades appropriately from their on out.   Probably the worst thing that day trader can do is to win on the back of a losing trade.  If they do this once, then it’s highly likely that they will continue to make the same mistake repeatedly.  The result of doing this can be a wide variety of problems, the least of which could be a large dent in your bank or trading account.  In turn, the long-term result might end up being psychological problems that make trading in the future more difficult or impossible.  Anxiety and paranoia is the enemy of success, so avoid this at all costs and you’ll avoid many problems down the road that you should not and won’t have to contend with, if you don’t make this mistake to begin with in the beginning.  Remember, you can’t control the market, but you can control yourself.

Learn to Trade the Closing Gap

This is the “secret” that many professional traders master to become successful.  Why?  Because this is a very reliable and low risk strategy, which you’ll be able to deploy with easy once you master the correct technique.  This is going to be how you go from loser to winner in a very short period of time, so it’s important that you learn this strategy right away.  Failure to do so could mean that you are setting yourself up for failure of your day trading career.

Learn that Your Market Has a Unique Personality

When it comes to trading, there is significantly more to it then learning about bar charts, chart patterns, and moving averages.  If you just focus on these things then you’re missing out on some of the most important aspects of trading.  There’s a lot more that you need to tap into if you want to be successful and want to have an edge in the markets.  There are many personality traits that you’ll need to learn.  An example of a personality trait of the market is that Mondays tend to be bear days and Tuesdays tend to reverse Monday’s gains and will have a bullish tendency.  If you’re able to master these personality traits, then using the charts, chart patterns and moving averages will be secondary, because many times you’ll find that you already know what the market is going to do.  It’s this pre-existing knowledge that is going to give you the true edge that you are looking for and that is going to allow you really build on your success as a day trader.  Get to know the market like it’s your favorite uncle and you will succeed.

Don’t Focus on Your Profit and Loss Accounts (P & L Accounts)

When you’re trading, the last thing that should be playing in your head is how much money you’ve made or loss at any given time, but rather you should be focusing on your charts and if you’ve completed the first tip I gave (prepared appropriately) then you should know when to exit your trade and when to enter your trades.  Focusing on profit and loss at any given time is going to result in emotional stress and trauma.  This is going to prevent you from being your best.

Quality and Not Quantity

As a trader there is a common misconception that you must trade every single day.  This is simply not the case.  While you should be trading most days, you should avoid trading on days when you don’t have a clear or an easy setup.  Be patient and wait, because if you do then you’ll be nearly guaranteed 2 or 3 easy trades that you make.  Remember the saying, “patience is a virtue” and this is especially true in the day trading field.  Don’t let your emotions get the best of you or force you to make a decision that you wouldn’t normally make.  The thing that is going to separate the winners from the losers is the ability to wait for the right timing and the right situation before trying to execute a trade.  Losers will rush things and make trades because they feel like they must make money.  If you do this then you are ultimately setting yourself up for a loss.  In the long run it is always better to remember that less is more.  Focus on the trades that you KNOW will be a success and avoid pushing or forcing trades that might not be such a hot idea.

Don’t Be a Bear on the First of the Month

If you try push the first of the month then you’re going to be competing with large pension funds and mutual funds, which is going to make your trades more difficult to predict.  You could look into a low risk breakout strategy, such the five-minute bar to confirm any trade setups that you do have.   It’s wise to play the first of the month cool though and be careful with a trades that you do make.  The emotional trauma from a large loss on the first could make the rest of the month significantly more stressful.

Persevere: Fortune Comes to Those that Never Quit

I read an article a few years ago that said it takes about 10,000 hours to master any given subject.  That means that if you work at something 40 hours a week, it will take you over 10 years to master it.  So while things will get easier as you learn, it’s going to take time to master trading.  Fortunes do not come to those that quit easily.  If you are trying to get into a low risk trade, it may take multiple attempts.  Professional traders will sometimes try up to 4 times to get into a low risk trade.  But it’s this perseverance that is going to lead to success in the long run.  Small losses in trading shouldn’t be seen as a negative, but rather they should be seen as a strengthening of the mind.  It’s the large losses that you must avoid.  Too many people are too willing to quit after things don’t go exactly as planned.  Remember that you should never fear failure.  The fear of failure is paralyzing and will only harm you in the long run.

K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Stupid

This is probably one of the most over used acronyms that there is, but it is so universal and that’s why managers and leaders love to use it.    When it comes to trading it very true as well.  Keep your strategies as simple as possible because there will be less room for error and a higher likelihood of success.  The more complicated your system is, the less likely that you are to succeed.   Experts agree on this tip, don’t try and over complicate things and know your system backwards and forwards if you want to achieve success.  Doing this will allow you to apply discretion and adapt to the market, giving you the ability to know when you should avoid your system altogether.  The end result of doing this will help lower you drawdown periods.  Remember that you are ultimately responsible for knowing when to say know and having a simple system is what is going to allow you do this with ease.  So many traders are ultimately failures because they want to create an amazing but over complicated system, which in the long run will prevent them from succeeding.  Don’t be that guy!

You Cannot Gain an Edge on the News

Sentiment is what ultimately drives markets, not a positive or negative news piece.  In other words, what one person, might perceive as positive, could appear negative to another.  That’s why it’s important to understand that it’s very difficult to call the market based on a piece of news.  The smarter move is to put a stop in place to guarantee a profit, or even just stand aside and let the news travel it’s course before making a major play.  Then you can assess when to enter the market after that happens.

Large Egos Mean a Harder Fall

Professionals will tell that 80% of the time the market is sideways trading or it’s consolidating, so you’ll have access to some extremely easy and low risk trades when you see this type of market.  Failed traders OBSESS with trying to catch the big moves that end up resulting in a big losses or no profit at all.  It’s very difficult, in practice, to pick the actual tops and bottoms of the market.  So keep your egos in check and focus focus focus on deploying low risk strategies that are going to result in solid and consistent profits in the long run.

Have a Specific Account for Your Trading Funds

We’ve already talked about how important it is to not focus on individual gains and losses, but another tips along these lines that is going to result in less stress (and hence more success) is only using money that you can afford to risk.  If you are constantly concerned about breaking then bank, then you may not make the best decisions all the time.  So save up a specific amount and only use that money for trading.  Don’t withdraw from that account until you’ve reached a specific goal and view much as a gambler would view their bankroll, a flexible extension of their business that comes and goes.  If the funds you are using are supposed to be used for something else, like a family project or similar, then you are absolutely doomed to failure.  Don’t let this happen, make sure you keep your day trading funds separate and this is going to nearly guarantee that you are able to trade with an easy mind and not worry about “is this decision the right one.”  Instead of being based on emotion, your decision will be based on empirical evidence, the way it should be.

Know Yourself

Your temperament must be objective and you must be able to control your temperament regardless of what is going on with the market and with your business at any particular moment.  Learning to control your temperament is absolutely the key to being successful, because while one minute the market could be failing to execute the way expect it to, the next things could turn around and you need to be ready for that change if you want to profit.  That’s why it’s so important to know yourself as a day trader.  Changing your mind and your position every few minutes will ultimately result in failure.

Start Small

You can test the waters and your abilities by using demo software or by trading on a small scale.  This may not make you any money, but it will allow you to see your own strengths and weaknesses, which will help you earn more in the long run.  Even the best traders in the world had to start somewhere, and while it may take you those 10,000 hours to be a master, you have to begin within you own level first.

Don’t Trade Too Many Markets at Once

Especially as a beginner it’s important that you don’t over extend yourself and that you don’t’ attempt to trade in too many markets at once.  This is a common mistake that those that lack experience make.  They tend to jump in headfirst and try to trade in multiple markets, using multiple systems and the end result is that they aren’t able to profit in any of them.  This has a catastrophic on mentality, especially as a beginner and can lead to ultimate failure.  Remember, go in feet first and test the market one market at a time.  Even the top guys find it difficult to trade different asset classes at the same time, because independent factors move these markets.

Don’t Over Commit

A good rule of thumb for this rule is to keep 3 times the amount of money needed for a position in your account.  This is going to help you avoid making decisions based on the amount of money in your margin account.    The last thing that you want to do is (again) make a decision based on the fear of loss or fear of lack of gain.  These are poor emotions that will damage your ability to trade effectively.

Buy the Right Equipment for the Job

It’d be easy to write 1000 words on all of the recommendations for a professional trader to have, but rather than do that let’s just focus on some of the big ones that you want to make sure that you have before you begin trading.

• A reliable multi-monitor computer system.  In particular, you need to make sure that your computer has enough power and speed to easily power 2-3 monitors.  The reason for this is simple, you need to execute trades quickly and easily and having multiple monitors so that you can organize your materials and programs more easily is an essential.
• A strong, fast and reliable Internet connection (or 2 for that matter).  Anything less 10Mb/s is simply unacceptable because you’ll end up dealing with too much lag time.  And while we’re on the subject of internet connections, it’s strongly recommended that you have a back internet connection of some sort that you can quickly change over to if your first one goes down unexpectedly, as tends to sometimes happen.  You can purchase a cheap DSL plan for $25-30 a month and that will work fine for this purpose.
• A quiet workspace or environment.  Don’t try to do your trading at your local Starbucks.  You can hangout there, but leave your work at home.  It’s going to be of no benefit to you to work at Starbucks.  You need to have a quiet environment that will allow you to focus.  The more distractions that you have, the more likely you are to make a mistake.

Well hopefully this article has been a big help for you in determining some of the key tips to being a successful day trader.  Following these guidelines will lead to a much higher likelihood of success and we wish you the best on your endeavor.

Components Needed to Build a Multiple Monitor Computer

It’s not a new concept; running multiple monitors from the same computer, yet there are is still a lot of disinformation floating around the web regarding what you need to make this work correctly.  In fact, in many cases (depending on you over all goal) you may not need anything to get your multiple monitor computers up and running.  In reality, Windows, Mac OSX and many variations of Linux now support multiple monitors, so the key factors are going to be what video card you use, do you have a fast enough processor, and do you have enough RAM.  I’ll talk a little bit about each of these factors and then you can determine what, if anything, you need to purchase in addition to these items.

First and foremost, you need to look at the back of your computer- you are looking for the output where your monitor is plugged into the computer.  This is your video card and if you are lucky then yours already supports at least 2 monitors.  In fact, a lot of the computers that we are seeing these days already come equipped with dual outputs on the video card.  However, if yours doesn’t then that’s ok too!  You have few fairly easy options to turn your single monitor computer into a dual monitor computer, purchase a new video card with dual outputs, purchase a second video card, purchase dual or triple monitor adapter or purchase a new computer.  These options are all good options and deciding which one will work best for you honestly just depends on your budget and your knowledge.

Let’s discuss installing a new video card first, as this is likely the least expensive option.  There are a lot of different types of video cards available, so it’s important that you pay attention to what you are buying before you end up purchasing.  The price range of video cards runs anywhere from $60 up to $10,000 (yes, seriously), but you’re going to be purchasing is a card probably in the $175-$300 range.  You want to pick a card that is multi-headed.  You’ll also need to determine what type of slot you have available on your motherboard.  There are 3 main types of slots available.  PCI, PCI Express.  Determining which type your PC has is as simple as running this program (Windows).

Alternatively, these are the characteristics of each type of slot.  It should be noted that, yes, you will have to open the case on your PC eventually.  If you’re not comfortable doing this then it might be best that you go with another solution to setup your multiple monitor PC

PCI-E slot is located apprx. 1 1/2″ from the M/B edge and slot is apprx. 4″ long including the locking tabs
AGP slot is located apprx. 2 3/8″ from the M/B edge and slot is apprx. 3″ long
PCI slot is also 1 1/2″ in from the M/B edge but the length is 3 1/4″

Now that you know what you have you can select the appropriate card and there are a few that I really like.  Matrox makes a nice card at a decent price for PCIe computers.  I like this card because it supports high-resolution graphics for large widescreen monitors, something that I recommend you purchase.  Regardless of what you pick, the key is making sure you get the right type of card for your computer and additionally that you get a multi-headed card.  If you aren’t sure, make sure you check with a professional before you buy.

Another option, if you aren’t comfortable installing a new video card in your computer is to use an adapter.  Several companies make adapters that will work, but probably one of the most popular is the Matrox TripleHead2Go and DualHead2Go.  These work great for laptops, but you can use them for your desktop.  Probably the number one advantage to using an adapter instead of installing a new video card is convenience.  The cost is going to be about the same, but it takes significantly less know-how and time to use the adapter versus the video card.   And it’s less time consuming, because regardless of how quick you, installing new hardware just takes time.  Whereas using an adapter like the aforementioned one is pretty much a plug and play event.  You can simply follow the instructions and setup will only take a few minutes.  You also run less risk of damaging your computer with static or just carelessness.

Next thing that you’ll have to select is the monitors you want to use with your multiple monitor computer.  Picking a monitor comes down to a few main factors.  Number one you need to determine the output type of your video card.  There are 4 basic output types; let’s discuss those for just a moment.  The first type is the old school VGA (Video Graphics Array).  This was the standard for decades and what most analog CRT monitors connected with for years.  The main problems with VGA graphics were that they were subject to electronic noise and image distortion.  In other words, the image just wasn’t very clear.    Starting a few years ago, DVI (Digital Visual Interface) replaced VGA as the standard for graphics.  LCD and Plasma displays used this type of graphic interface for high definition images.  Even some later CRT monitors were capable of handling DVI graphics.  It’s also easy to hook up DVI to DVI-I via an adapter.  This allows CRT monitors (does anyone still use these) to be easily converted to DVI.  S-Video is next type of output we’ll talk about.  This is the little round adapter that you might see on the back of your DVD player, especially older ones.  Also, some laptops had this type of output making it easy to hook up video to your TV.   And finally, HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio/video interconnect that came out in 2003.  This is particularly common for video game outputs.

Of course, the next import decision that you have to make is type, size and style of monitors that you want to use.  There are a few different types of available that we’ll discuss.  Other than this sentence, I’m going to leave CRT monitors out of this discussion. (Who uses those these days anyways?)  The three main types of monitors that you’ll have to choose from are Plasma, LCD, and LED.  Let’s talk a little bit about the pros and cons of each.  Plasma was among the first types of flat screen monitors to hit the market.  The advantage of plasma is that they have a high contrast ratio (about 1,000,000:1) and a low level of black.  The response time is also is also very fast.  The down side is that unless the monitor is very big, the resolution is not amazing.  This is due to plasma monitor having large pixel pitch.  You also may notice an image flicker, this is due to them being phosphor based.  Another downside is that the have a glass screen, which can mean a glare.  LCD screens are probably the most popular type of monitor these days.  They have quite a few advantages, including being very light weight, and using very low energy.  They are also relatively cheap in comparison to other types of screens.  Color distortion due to bleeding, having a limited viewing angle and having an input lag are some of the cons to using an LCD screen.  And finally we’ll talk about LED screens.  These are the newest and probably best type of monitor available.  They have the brightest and highest resolution image.  They are slightly more expensive than LCD screens, but worth the extra money.

One thing that a lot of people leave out when they decide design their multi-monitor computer system is a monitor organization scheme, such as a dual, tri or quad monitor stand.  Without a special stand you desk will be cluttered and having your extra monitor won’t be nearly as advantageous.  Here are a few that you can check out for yourself.  There are a few different types of arrangements that you should check out.  The first is the standard horizontal dual, tri and quad monitor stand.  There are also 1×2 and 2×2 stand for quad monitor setups that will take up significantly less space than a horizontal stand.  And finally, a there are vertical stands available as well.  You see these a lot in day trader offices.  They are good stands.

Regardless of the type of setup that you decide to go with you always have another option as well; you can buy a prebuilt computer designed to handle multiple monitor computers along with a monitor array.  While it’s true that you may end up spending a bit more money if you go this route, you’ll save a decent amount of time and frustration and you’ll have the opportunity to speak with a multiple monitor expert about your purchase.  A lot of businesses and individuals alike go with this option simply for the timesavings, so it’s certainly an option to consider.

Graphic Cards for Professionals – Beyond the Horizon!

Teens are hooked on fast-action and riveting video games, adults are breaking sweat on high-tech image analysis and various industries are stacking computers over computers to create a bigger screen! Today’s world seems to rotate around high-throughput graphics technology. And with that, comes the age of cutting-edge Graphic solution technologies.

Every time you turn on your PC and switch your monitor on, right from the wallpaper displayed to the complex visualization of video games, everything thrives on a good graphic support! For this purpose, Graphic cards have been developed, and every now and then, one surpasses the other.

With the demanding and ever-increasing need for an enhanced display as seen in almost all sections of today’s society, it has become merely confusing to single out a graphic solution from the profuse variants of high-performance graphic cards. Many graphic cards these days allow you to expand the horizons of your screen onto other monitors. Some let you support a wider screen image by allowing more data at a rapid rate. Some provide higher storage capacity, which entails a greater data assimilation power to ensure better image display! It seemingly becomes an ordeal to browse through these many lucrative options and settle for a solution that satisfies your needs most appropriately.

In an attempt to ease that stress for you, here are three top contenders for the most advanced graphic solutions available. One of these bad boys is bound to end your search:

 Matrox M9188 PCIe x16 multi-display Octal graphics card:

Being a newly embedded jewel to the pristine M-series of Matrox Graphic solutions, this power-packed graphic card heralds itself as being the first single-slot Octal card with PCl Express x16 offering single card with 16 display support! The most celebrated feat of the Matrox M9188 is that it harbors 8-display plugins in one unit, which makes it almost indispensible for people who use multiple displays. Matrox M9188 uses Mini Display Port adaptors, which allow the user to manage eight screens from a single Graphic card and control the image display on all those eight screens. The graphic card also allows the user to shuttle between independent screen display and Stretched Display over multiple screens.

With a hardcore 2 GB memory on-board, it can cater pleasantly astounding data support making it possible to handle large scale image analysis like multi-access security imaging or financial trading on multiple ends! It appears not so subtly that this graphic solution is more adept for the corporate machinery, which needs wide-screen projection and boosted graphic support. The salient features of the Matrox M9188 PCIe x16 multi-display Octal graphics card are:

• Ø Single slot card with multi-card support –facility to run 16 display units using 2 cards.
• Ø DisplayPort and DVI single link output
• Ø 2GB of memory on-board –to handle large amounts of data single-handedly.
• Ø Native PCI Express x16 performance
• Ø Stretched and independent desktop support
• Ø 2560 x 1600 DisplayPort monitor resolution and 1920 x 1200 DVI monitor resolution (per display) –offering unmatched flexibility for display options.
• Ø OpenGL 2.0 support
• Ø Drivers for Windows 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003/2008, and Linux included with 32-bit and 64-bit support in all cases.
• Ø Edge overlap –to provide crisp images with clearly defined features on-screen rendering a new meaning to 3D imaging, down to the pixels!
• Ø ATX form factor
• Ø Matrox Powerdesk software –which offers easier control over program windows over multiple monitors.

The price may seem a bit high ($2599), but considering the unrivaled and flexible features it offers it’s really a steal!

FirePro V9800 4GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1×16 Hex Monitor Display Support:

The most advanced addition to the ATI FirePro^TM graphic solutions, this graphic card offers intensive data support and allows you to extrapolate your display to six independent screens at the same time using a single card! It comes boasting a 4 GB data storage capacity that allows you to maneuver through complex computational requirements and renders impeccable performance. Suited for professionals who work with extensive graphic analysis and intense 3D environment, this card offers an edge over others with the ATI EyeFinity^TM support. With a GDDR 5 memory support, it satisfies the high-bandwidth requirement irresistible for working with Medical Imaging or Digital Content creation or Simulation.

Some salient features of this dazzling performer are:

• Ø ATI Eyefinity technology allowing up to six independent displays
• Ø 1600 stream processor that surpasses any existing technology
• Ø 4GB GDDR5 memory
• Ø AutoDetect technology that optimizes performance for multi-application workflow
• Ø Hardware acceleration and support for DirectX® 11 and OpenGL 4.0
• Ø 3D  Stereoscopic support to ensure unrivaled image quality
• Ø Framelock/Genlock support
• Ø ATI CrossFire™ Pro Support
• Ø PCI Express® 2.1 compliant

PNY VCQ6000-PB Quadro 6000 Fermi Graphics Card:

The pioneer of massive data storage, with 6 GB GDDR 5 memory support, this card ushers in a new era of 5X faster speed and performance in delivering broad range of designs, animations and video applications.

The innovative Fermi architecture, this graphic card comes with a 448 NVIDIA CUDA parallel processing core, which gives a rapid data analysis for people who have no time to spare. Powered by Floating Point Precision (64-bit), it offers impeccable results with no scope for error especially for critical applications like simulation and computational fluid dynamics. Enhanced integrity of data and irrefutably reliable processing comes hand-in-hand with the powerful ECC memory. Paving way for revolution, Quadro 6000 Fermi brings in Scalable Geometry Engine^TM technology, which offers a stunning 1.3 trillion triangles per second, breaking through the shackles of previous limitations on 3D graphics.

Here are some features that make Quadro 6000 Fermi the best and the finest in the market:

• Ø GPU Series: NVIDIA Quadro –powerful technology to make your work easier and unhindered!
• Ø Lifestyle: Workstation / GPU Computing
• Ø NVIDIA GigaThread Engine –to provide context switching so seamless that your work flows across the screen, or screens!
• Ø NVIDIA Scalable Geometry Engine –to ensure unrivaled image quality
• Ø NVIDIA CUDA Architecture –for immense and intensive data processing.
• Ø Maximum Digital Resolution: 2560 x 1600
• Ø Video Card Profile: Standard / Dual-Slot
• Ø Memory Interface: 384-bit
• Ø Memory Type: GDDR5
• Ø Video Memory: 6GB
• Ø Stream Processors: 448
• Ø Memory Bandwidth: 144GB/sec.
• Ø Interface Type: PCI Express 2.0
• Ø Connector(s): DVI (Dual Link) / Dual Display Port
• Ø Multiple Monitors Support
• Ø APIs: NVIDIA CUDA / DirectX 11 / Shader Model 5 / OpenGL 4.0
• Ø Video Output: DVI / DisplayPort

All of these graphic support solutions are designed to deliver the highest and ultimate image analysis techniques that expand the horizons of graphic technology. From cutting edge processing speed to indispensible 3D support, these graphic cards have it all! For all the needs that a user can have, the solution is within here!

As they say, pictures say much more than words!

The Advantages of Using Digital Signage for Government Offices

Government offices have started using digital signage as a means to easily inform, not only those whom work in their offices, but also the general public of on going projects within that particular government building. Using this technology is not only a way for the government to keep up to date with the present innovations, but also as a cost efficient means to keep constituents easily informed of things taking place within the building, such as meetings, visitors to various departments, community events, etc.

The usage of digital signage has increased tremendously all over the world with China being the largest consumer. At present there are multitudes of companies manufacturing or even controlling digital signage as means to help inform the public.

Digital signage is simply a digital screen which performs tasks that traditional signs do, as well as showing television programs, advertisements, announcements, menus, and many others. It uses display technology such as LCD and LED. Digital signage is usually installed on both community and personal places such as stores, hotels, corporate buildings, and of course government offices.

Controlling the digital signage is easy. Computer device or office servers using specialized programs for the purpose of posting messages usually do this. Such programs also act as drivers for these devices.

Digital signage came about as a cheaper and more efficient alternative to posting announcements. Compared to static signs, it saves time, energy, and money. One of the greatest advantages of using digital signage in government office buildings is that it’s easier to update the information displayed. In addition digital signage is also interactive. Placing colors or images to make it look interesting and eye-catching (or make it animated) are a couple of tricks used to grab the attention of building visitors.

The interactive feature of this digital signage is the reason why these are also seen outside of buildings. It means that digital signs can also be used as powerful and compelling advertisements. Certain companies use this as a way to advertise their products or services to people who are walking down the streets or in offices or public places. This has proven to be an effective way for governments to earn additional revenue and improve their programs without placing an additional tax burden on their constituents.

Additionally, digital signage can also integrate touch screen technology. This is the reason why most government offices also use this display. It also serves as an easy way for clients to do transactions or easily browse for information.

Technology of Digital Signage

Digital signage is composed of a screen (or multiple screens), media player, and content management server. This is all networked together to produce the desired display. Sometimes one signage is composed of multiple screens, media players and content management, which are all in synchrony, allowing each screen to show a specific part of the certain advertisement. And while it may cost a bit more, digital signs are available that have these three features combined into one component. The advantage is it’s a bit easier to setup, however, maintenance is similar regardless of the style of digital sign that you choose.

When it comes to modern screen displays, the most used is the LED matrix, primarily because LED displays are cheaper and use less energy than their CRT, Plasma and LCD counterparts. No additional component is needed to control or showcase the picture such as those in LCD displays.  With companies and government offices focusing on being green, another reason why LED displays are so popular is because they use less energy, making them more environmental friendly. Different styles of LED’s, such as OLED or AMOLED, are safer to use and are more durable. Because these displays are also enhanced, they offer up a clearer/higher resolution image as well.

Purpose of digital signage in government offices

Usage of digital signage is becoming more popular in many businesses and since the private sector typically drives government innovation, this is the reason why the government sees it fit to use them in informing the public.

• Digital signage posts various public information such as news, weather, travels information and certain news headlines like the current stock market information. This helps keep government manage things running smoothly, such as infrastructure projects, funding, and medical missions.
• Menu information is another reason common use of digital signage. This is not only limited in restaurants, but in health organizations too. But we’re not just talking about the food being served, but also nutritional facts informing consumers of food that may be unhealthy.  They also have photos of food and recipes that can be prepared for those who are looking after their diet. This can also include medical supplements provided in public hospitals and clinics and even treatments.
• Advertisement is the most common reason why such signage exists outside buildings. The government needs to update the people on certain services from their offices. In addition, posting job openings not only in their offices, but also in other establishments is an advantage of digital signage. Even health announcements such as advocacy campaigns can be easily displayed with digital signs. And during election season, digital signs may be used to help aid in the election process. For example, these signs are a convenient and efficient way to inform people of certain events that concern the nation, such as debates or speeches.
• Displays are also used as a way to inform people who visit government offices, especially those where there’s registration involved, managing a long line of people waiting to see an agent. They even help direct constituents to which booth or office they should go.
• Another benefit of display signage is interactive screen maps which are used to give people direction on what each floor has or where they can find a certain office they need to go to.

Informing the public

Government offices fulfill a number of crucial roles, such as informing their constituents of important events, emergency weather management, other alert services, and so much more.  Such informational devices are a great help to government offices.

Multi Monitors: For Gaming or Working It’s Always an Advantage

In the age where technology helps all our work get done, multi-monitors reign supreme in helping people with multi tasking. In the same way that smartphones allow you to do work outside of your office, these multi-viewing devices give you the benefit of being able to complete more tasks in less amount of time while you are at work. For example, let’s say you’re monitoring the stock market, but at the same time doing some research. One monitor can help you see the changes in the stock market, while the other let’s you conduct research.  And yet a third monitor can be used to browse the internet or even read and send emails.

If you aren’t sure if you’ll be able to handle multiple screens—understand that using multiple screens will make-work significantly easier, regardless of what type of work you’re doing.  One of the biggest time savings that you will experience is the ability to stop jumping from tab to tab.

In addition this technology is not limited to work areas.  You read it right! Multi monitors are not limited to the work area. Gamers discovered long ago that playing games becomes more fun! How?   We’ll get to the details of this in just a moment.

What are multi monitors?

Multi monitors are just physical display devices used simultaneously. These can be computer monitors, television or even projectors. The purpose of using such a network is to increase the availability of computer programs open in a single system. Of course this is unlike the usage of tabs and windows, because this makes it easier for operators to view the programs rather than shifting from tab to another.  Multi-monitor computers are often called a variety of things, such as dual-display, dual screen, and dual monitor, but it all uses the same basic technology to work.

Multi-monitors were first used on windows systems. This technology was once dependent on video drivers specially made for such. However, these days both OSX (Mac’s OS) and just about every version of Linux as well can handle multiple screens with ease.

Types of multi monitors

Multi monitors have come a long way since it was first used. At present there are different kind of multi monitors a person can use at work or during gaming sessions.

• Single pc

When we say single pc this means that the multi-monitoring system only uses one screen but is divided into multiple windows. It increases the net display of the system and has been considered as an inexpensive way to monitor more work.  In particular, OSX Lion and Windows 7 make this type of display easy to setup and use.

• Dual monitors

Using two or more monitors were more integrated as AGP came along. Advance Graphics card has dual monitoring features, which allow users to use two monitors or more. In addition it enhances the resolution. Another way to do this is by integrating an AGP adapter and using a PCI bus for the other monitoring device. While this may work, PCI capabilities are very much behind that of the AGP.

• Multiple pc

To be able to use multi monitors this way, the computer system must be custom designed. The graphics card and even the system used are upgraded to support a program that will help a network of monitors.  A centralized computer system is responsible for all the monitor controlling.

The graphics cards used

To make multi-display computers possible, certain graphics adapters are necessary. These display adapters allow two or more outputs and may be similar or may come in variations. The outputs are usually DVI or VGA ports. CRT monitors usually use VGA (earlier versions). Latter styles of CRT use BNC or DVI. LCDs are now the most common type of monitoring and are higher definition compared to the CRT, but depending on the model of the LCD it may be using either VGA or DVI.

The Gaming Experience

Hardcore gamers often say that PC gaming is more fun compared to using an Xbox, Wii or other gaming system. Because gaming PCs are customizable they are often faster and easier to play games. In addition, many games even support multi-monitoring, which allows them to have better view than their opponent.

Multi monitoring has helped shaped the gaming industry tremendously. It has given gamers a chance to have a 3D experience, regardless of whether they play with other distant team members or not. Because gaming computers already use high-end graphics cards, processors and more RAM, the upgrade to a multiple monitor gaming PC is often rather cheap and painless.

How to play games using multi monitors

Playing multi-monitoring games are fun, especially if you’re up against actual players from around the globe. Here’s an example of how easy it is to setup multiple monitors for gaming:

1. Check your graphics card if it supports a dual-link output. If it doesn’t have one then you’ll need to go purchase one that does to start multi monitoring.
2. Select a second monitor.   It’s best to make sure it has the same resolution and size of screen.
3. Check if the game you are to play can support multi monitoring. There are certain games that can’t, but it should say on the box, or the download page, so you’ll know before hand.  Of the games that support multi-monitors some of the most popular are Microsoft’s Flight Simulator and several popular racing games.  But many others support multiple monitors as well, so just check it out before you purchase.
4. Just like any new installation, connect the new monitor to your system and follow the specific instruction for your OS to setup the extra monitor.  You may need to reboot your computer to allow it to read the device and the installation, but most likely you will not. Set up the properties and select the appropriate resolution for the new computer.
5. You can now use the other monitor as a second monitor for all your tasks, but for gaming as well.  You may have to configure the extra monitor(s) within the game itself, but you’ll need to follow the game instructions to do this part of the setup.

Using multi monitors either in gaming or in work has proven itself to be very useful.   You’ll enjoy the benefits of multiple screens regardless of the application. 

Digital Signage in Stadiums

Today’s stadiums are packed with more power and excitement for spectators all thanks to the digital signage.

Stadiums are presently considered a digital signage jungle. Stadium owners have implemented the technology not only within the enclosure of the building, but also outside. This makes the latest concerts and sports events more exciting and fun than ever.

What is Digital Signage?

Digital signage is a display technology that uses television programming, advertisements, announcements, and other information that can be useful to the public. These are usually called to as DOOH or Digital out of Home Advertising since it can be found in the streets or in public areas such as stadiums.

There are a number of benefits in using digital signage over traditional static advertising:

1. It can easily be updated.

Digital signage is controlled by a computer or video wall controller, which controls the output of the signage and allows the operator to determine how many seconds the duration of one announcement of advertisement is on the screen until it is rotated again.  Advertisements are simply uploaded as needed.

1. Color and Animation Mean More Eyeballs on the Screen.

Since digital signage use matrix system, advertisements and information is interactive. Different colors and designs are designed by professionals and added to the signage.

1. It is cost efficient.

One reason why many offices and public areas use digital signage is that it costs less. Compared to other signage, updating is simple using a controller system. With static signage updating means reprinting and redoing the whole sign. There’s also the labor involved in installing the static signs over and over, while digitals must only be installed once and maintained.

While there are still number of reasons why digital signage is a the preferred way to post information for public viewing, the selection of display technology that must be carefully planned to make it budget and environmentally friendly.

LCD versus LED versus Plasma

Digital signage for stadiums is usually very large multi-screen video-style-monitors. This makes it necessary to select the right display technology used in order to create the best advertisement or information update during the games.

For any screens or displays, out in the market, such as television, smartphones, especially the digital signage, the leading technology at present is LCD, LED, and Plasma. The question now is which is best for outdoor or indoor sports signage?

• LCD

LCD or Liquid Crystal Screen requires a separate light source for it to work. For this they need cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs), which lights up the screen. These CCFLs are like fluorescent light used in lamps and headlights.

• LED

Light emitting diode screen, as the name implies, uses light emitting diode to project display to the screen. Contrast and brightness can easily be adjusted.

• Plasma

Plasma screens use phosphors to create image on the screen. These light themselves up which means they don’t require backlighting.

At present there are many variations of such screens available today, such as LED-LCD screens, which makes LCD screens cheaper and creates an impressive image. For LED there are OLED or organic light-emitting diode screens, which are more environmental friendly.

There are several different ways how to determine which display should be purchased for stadiums.

1. The resolution – since it will be for everyone in a large crowd to see and since games gives are a lively and vibrant place, it is best to make sure the resolution of the digital signage is high enough that everyone can see, and In addition text and other information must be clear and easily readable.

1. The cost – while LCD’s aren’t quite as sharp as plasma, they easily upstage plasma screens in cost.  Compared to LCD and plasma, LED is more environmental friendly since LEDs are used to emit display out of the screen. However, among the three LED’s are the most costly.

1. 3.   Indoor or outdoor usage – there’s a need to know if the technology can handle outside weather elements such as rain, heat, and wind. There are also ultraviolet rays to worry about. There are, however, certain screen protectors that help handle the elements, so when purchasing,

Uses of Digital Signage in Sports Stadiums

With the multitude of benefits seen in using digital signage for public information needs, sports stadiums have started using digital screens as a way to further excite the crowd. In addition, managers of stadiums see this as an opportunity to earn more money from ad revenues. So what are the specific uses of signage in stadiums?

1. Digital signage for side sponsorship

Sponsorship is very profitable for stadium owners and the team owners as well. While the game is ongoing, the advertisements are displayed one at a time or simultaneously around the stadium. This is a great way for sponsors to gain more market since the crowds at sporting events often number in the tens of thousands.  Each digital sign and even the time of the advertisement’s posts, is more profit.

1. Score Posting

Digital signage is a means to show the latest updates in games such as scores of team and player highlights. Often these large screens are a digital scoreboard in a way and also a means for people to know latest stats on each player.

1. Additional information

Other information displayed might include seating arrangements, ticket sales, game schedules, and upcoming events.

Care of Digital Signage in Stadiums

Care for digital signage is often performed by special teams that are trained in digital signage maintenance. Using the right products to clean and maintain these signs is of the upmost importance, which is why most stadiums and cities simply hire a team to do the job professionally.  While this may cost slightly more upfront, the benefit will be a functional screen with a better image that lasts longer.  It’s most certainly worth it in the long run.

Playing games using multiple monitors provides a way to organize specific elements of gameplay onto separate screens. You may wish to have your inventory, stats, maps or other useful information on one screen and the actual game play on the other. Before setting up your gaming for multiple monitors, its important to ensure that your computer’s hardware supports a second monitor. If it doesn’t, purchasing a new graphics card normally makes it possible to add a second or even third monitor. Of course, you also need to choose games that support the use of multiple monitors.

Installing a Second Monitor

Make sure that your graphics card supports dual monitors. You’ll know by looking at the back of the computer. If there are two or more ports for a monitor then you can simply plug the second monitor in, with the computer shut off, and then start the computer. If the card does not support multiple monitors then you’ll need to purchase a new graphics card that has a dual-link graphics card before playing. Installation of a new graphics card usually only takes a few minutes. Just turn off and unplug the computer, open the computer casing and remove the old graphics card. Usually, you’ll need to use a Philips screwdriver to release the graphics card from the computer. Then, just slide the new graphics card in place. Don’t force the card in; it should slide in easily. Secure the new card and then close the computer case. Once you’ve done that, simply plug in the monitors and start your system.

Once the computer has started up, go to the display options on your system. Some graphics cards split the computer over two screens, while others have a primary and secondary monitor setup. For computers that use primary and secondary monitors, choose your main monitor and set it as the primary one. The primary monitor will have your desktop, icons and anything else that would appear if you had just a single monitor. The secondary monitor provides space for you to drag items off the primary monitor.

Purchasing Monitors

Check the screen resolution of your current monitor and the overall size of the monitor. Monitor sizes are measured diagonally from one corner of the screen to the other. By choosing monitors of the same size and resolution, you’ll avoid problems with flickering and screen freezes while playing the game. If the computer has to work with multiple screen resolutions, the game play will suffer. If you have the money, it’s not a bad idea to purchase two of the same monitor. You can always try to trade the old monitor in, pawn it or sell it.

Games Without Dual Monitor Support

There are several reasons to use a second monitor even if the game you are playing doesn’t support multiple monitors. For instance, you could have a game walk-through on one monitor and the game play on the other. Multiple monitors are interesting to use; generally, you need to drag any items you want across the screen and on to the other monitor. You can test this by moving your mouse from the edge of the monitor on the right to the edge of the monitor on the left. You’ll notice that when the screen ends on the first monitor, the mouse keeps moving over to the second monitor. You can drag word documents, Internet pages, videos or whatever else you want over to the second monitor to view while playing. You could even let another member of your family watch a movie on the computer while you silence the noise in your game and keep playing.

Games With Dual Monitor Support

If the game does support dual monitors then you’ll have to go through the list of features to set up the monitor the way you want. You’ll need to know your current monitor resolution for this. If the monitor resolution is set at 1900 x 1200, then choose that option. If the game supports stretching the entire game over two images, you’ll see an option for a ”wide” screen setup. Typically, thesesetups will have a low second number and a high first number. For instance, two monitors with a screen resolution of 1900 x 1200 would have a combined screen real estate of 3800 x 1200. For games that support this sort of resolution, use the combined totals from both your monitors. This is why having two monitors with the same resolution and same size provides the greater benefit.

Alternatives to New Graphics Cards

While not the preferred method of gaming with multiple monitors, you can purchase a port adapter to plug in more than one monitor. To do this, you’ll need to purchase the port adapter and attach it to the back of your computer’s monitor port. This divides the port into two or more outputs that you can plug more than one monitor into. If you are going this route, make sure that you have plenty of RAM and a fast CPU. Normally, a dual-link graphics card would provide a suitable amount of RAM and processing power to power multiple monitors. Single monitor graphics cards normally don’t have enough video memory to support two computer monitors. So, in this case, you’ll need additional memory.