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LCD Computer Monitors - Some Thoughts
Summary
LCD, or “Liquid Crystal Display”, computer monitors – most of which, nowadays, are TFT, or “Thin Film Transistor”, or “active matrix”, in design – are a thinner, lighter and more energy efficient replacement for conventional CRT, or “Cathode Ray Tube”, monitors. LCD monitors are designed to plug into the monitor port of a computer, just like any other monitor, although, until such a time that analogue monitor technology is completely replaced by digital technology, monitors with just analogue, or with analogue and digital connections will be available.
Features
The most noticeable differences between an LCD monitor and a traditional, CRT monitor, are in its physical size, and weight, and actual viewing area of the screen available.
An LCD monitor, like an LCD television set, has no requirement for a tube – the component that accounts for most of the bulk, and weight, of the CRT alternative – and, as such, can be compact and lightweight. The weight of a 17 inch CRT monitor, for example, is likely to be at least 25lb, and may be as much as 60lb, whereas an equivalent LCD model is likely, on average, to weigh in at around the 15lb mark. The design of a CRT monitor also reduces the actual viewing area of its screen – a 17 inch CRT monitor, for example, has an actual viewing area of 16 inches – whereas, with an LCD monitor, the total quoted viewing area is actually available. The Protouch Geode, for example, is a 17 inch, touch screen model, with an open frame design, supporting resolutions of up to 1280 x 1024 pixels.
TFT, or active matrix, also means that LCD monitors are capable of producing very bright images – perhaps double the brightness of CRT monitors – and are especially effective in conditions of high, natural, or artificial, ambient light.
Specialised, “touch screen” LCD monitors, and accompanying software, are available, which allow a computer mouse, and keyboard, to be dispensed with, with actions, such as scrolling, and clicking, controlled by a fingertip, and input made possible by a software keyboard displayed on the monitor screen. This arrangement can be extremely useful, for example, in medical surgeries, and other, perhaps more public, places, such as ‘bus, or railway stations, where user interaction is required, but a mouse and/or a keyboard is impractical. The 3M M170 model, for example, again a 17 inch touch screen, is designed for retail and hospitality applications.
Conclusion
The obvious ergonomic advantages aside, the power required to operate an LCD monitor is roughly one third at that required for a CRT monitor, comparing like with like, and the amount heat generated is also considerably less. An LCD monitor also causes no electromagnetic interference of any kind, and the only components subject to natural “wear and tear”, if you like, are the tiny, fluorescent tubes which compose the backlight, although, even here, life spans of around 50,000 hours are typical.
Original Author: Tribal UK
