MULTIMEDIA PC PERIPHERALS - MONITORS & DISPLAYS

Essay by chillieUniversity, Bachelor'sC+, May 2004

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MONITORS & DISPLAYS

INTRODUCTION

Computers are radically changing the way people work, play and interact. While frequent improvements are made to the performance and functionality of processors, networks, peripherals and software, the display, (a computer's fundamental interface) has undergone almost no change over the past ten years, except for higher frequencies and resolutions. As new technology in PC development unfold, the major focus for monitor and graphics manufacturers will be to update the connection technology between computers and displays.

Digital is replacing analog in our lives everywhere. Just as audio buffs hear their favorite tracks from digital CDs rather than analog vinyl LPs, home video systems today feature digital video disk (DVD) players rather than VHS tape machines.

Even cell phones are going digital. In the digital realm of computers and networks, the analog Cathode ray tube (CRT) remains a steadfast holdout. But this too is beginning to change.

The vast majority of computer video monitors today are connected using an analog VGA

(Video Graphics Array) interface, an aging technology that represents the minimum standard

for a PC display.

In fact, today VGA represents an impediment to the adoption of new technologies such as the digital flat panel (DFP) liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma screen technology, and now Light Emitting Polymer technology.

Another fundamental is the degradation of image quality that occurs when a digital signal is converted to analog, and then back to digital before driving an analog input LCD display.

The analog VGA interface is still everywhere today. In fact, nearly 99 percent of all video displays sold in 1998 were based on analog CRT technology. Yet flat panel displays (FPDs) are beginning to make significant inroads on the CRT's dominance because of lower price levels and their growing popularity. These modern, space-saving monitors are even standard items...