We are living in a technology-driven world, where digital displays are more commonplace and companies are incorporating this technology more often. After all, a modern-looking, technologically driven environment is associated with innovation and professionalism.
Corporations spend millions of dollars to try to make their lobbies stand out, and digital displays can provide a way to make an impact every single time somebody walks through the door. Unfortunately, when the displays are added to an existing lobby, they rarely complement the space, something that neither architects nor designers appreciate very much.
So, is there a happy medium where technology meets design? The answer is video walls.
Video walls are the next level of visual engagement. They generate a bigger impact on audiences than traditional digital displays and are infinitely changeable and variable. Companies are using them to help promote their brand and provide useful information to visitors in a variety of cases, including meeting location information and emergency information. Public spaces, such as airports, shopping centers, museums, etc., are also using them.
Designers and architects can explore creative ideas for how to incorporate video walls into the environments they design. Video walls also provide flexibility and freedom on how, or where, they can be deployed. For example, a building owner might want to have displays on pillars, in elevators or other locations that aren’t a wall or perhaps the owner is interested in a video wall with the displays spread across a room, showing multiple types of source content simultaneously across all displays or groups of displays.
Video walls help close the gap between technology, functionality and aesthetics. Video walls with non-conventional layouts—known as Artistic video walls—often look more like pieces of art than arrays of screens and will not only complement the space, but also will generate greater impact. What’s best, video walls transform any surface into whatever immersive or eye-catching experience you want it to be. The range of expressive options is truly limitless.
Of course, with video walls being a cluster of displays, rather than a single digital sign, architects and designers have a bigger challenge. They must consider how to best work them into their designs (either from the beginning or as retrofits) and make them complement the space and harmonious with the environment.
Video walls traditionally have been an expensive option because they have relied on proprietary equipment and specialized management, in addition to being highly advanced features. Fortunately, new technology has made possible the rise of cost-effective solutions, capable of delivering high-quality video walls using standard hardware and the existing standard ethernet network. These new video walls reduce the need for equipment onsite, which makes possible having the displays in unconventional locations and in flexible layouts. They also improve accessibility for maintenance.
As technology moves forward at great speed, it’s important to choose a solution that is able to support future upgrades without jeopardizing your budget.