Information and Communication

Technology
Technical

Hennie Barnard

Determining size and shape in

control room video wall design
By Dr. Hennie Barnard, EEU Taltronics

In our technological society, operators are increasingly interacting with the plant(s) under their control. Designers should be focussed
on achieving optimised human-machine performance, and this is effected by efficient task allocation between human and machine,
then designing the human-machine interface according to sound engineering and ergonomic principles. Video walls are often part of
this interface.

Controlling processes and monitoring plant

behaviour requires a number of skills from
operators. Of all the information that we take
in from our surroundings, 80% comes through
our eyes, therefore an overview system that
can be seen by all operators, while providing
them with all the vital information in a blink of
the eye is a necessity. This tool must not only
give accurate information but this must be
done in a visible and legible way, keeping
the operators’ abilities and limitations in mind.

What is a video wall?

A video wall is a display and processing

system comprising a matrix of projectors or
monitors that function together as a single,
logical unit. When compared to a single
display, a video wall typically provides a
Fig. 1: Eye and head tilt dimensions.
much larger picture size with a far greater
pixel estate, since multiple screens are
combined to form a single image. Video
walls are ideal for displaying large images
and/or amounts of data that cannot fit
onto smaller screens. A video wall usually
dominates a significant portion of a wall, and
can be built with the same aspect ratio of a
standard display and can be of just about
any desired shape or orientation. A video
wall can comprise two, four, eight, nine,
even hundred’s of screens. Video walls have
several distinct attributes and advantages,
with image display capability and flexibility Fig. 2: Rear projection DLP-based video wall. Fig. 3: Flat panel LCD-based video wall.
that simply cannot be achieved otherwise.
The capital investment for video walls nearly
always faces heavy scrutiny, so it is important
video walls valuable (almost essential!) for the size and shape of the room should be
to sensibly identify and specify the video
maintaining situational awareness in control considered before selecting the quantity,
wall system requirements for every project
centres, specifically when properly integrated type and resolution of displays. A video wall
upfront. An effectively designed video
into its physical environment and engineered in a public setting for digital signage e.g. the
wall system, with proper consideration for
for efficient, ergonomic use. foyer of a corporate head office will have a
environmental and human factors, ensures
very different specification video wall as one
viewing comfort and optimal accessibility Deciding how large a video wall should
within a command and control centre.
for everyone in the room. This in turn helps be is more than a matter of determining
to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the how many display devices are required to To help determine the best physical shape
in conveying visual information. The ability fill a space on a wall. The manner in which and size for a video wall, keep the following
to present clear, high quality imagery from the video wall will be used, the types and points in mind:
multiple sources and at large sizes make quantity of information to be presented, and The general shape and size of a video wall

76 October 2013 - EngineerIT

 is frequently determined by the layout of
the room and space available on the wall,
and the seating and standing positions of
the operators and supervisors.
Thedistance from the closest and furthest
operator from the wall.
Ensure the display you select for the video
wall has sufficiently pixel density, so that the
closest viewer will not see pixel structure.
Balance this with the fact that the higher
the display resolution, the smaller the text
will appear, the closer the operator need
to sit in order to read it.
Draftingwindow layouts will help you better
define the shape and dimensions of the
video wall. Be sure to account for:
–The types of input sources.
–The aspect ratios and native resolutions
of these sources.
–Legibility of content, particularly text,
and the possible need to enlarge and
re-position them on the wall. Character
heights should be at least 0,006 x viewing
distance to be legible.
–The maximum number of sources to be
displayed simultaneously.
Together with these suggested guidelines,
be sure that the final video wall design and
configuration satisfies eye and head tilt
considerations.
Apply a minimum text height of 25 mm
on the screen for every 4,5 m of distance
between the video wall and the furthest
viewing position in the room.
The dimensions and resolution of each
individual display unit that makes up the
wall, will depend on the overall required
pixel density, the desired shape and size of
the video wall, and the budget. The choice
of display technology will dictate the
specific screen dimensions and resolutions
available from which to choose.
Fig. 4: LED walls in a sports stadium.
78
Different display technologies
Projection cubes
Projection cubes have long been the display
technology of choice for many video wall
installations, and this is still the case today.
Current projection cube designs feature DLP
projectors, with native resolutions ranging from
1024 x 768 to 1920 x 1200. They include LED
light sources with lifetimes specified between
50 000 and 100 000 hours. Projection cubes
are available in sizes from 1,27 to 2,03 m in
aspect ratios of 4:3, 16:9, or 16:10.
Flat-panel displays
Flat-panel LCD displays have quickly
become popular for video wall applications.
They range in size from 40 to 108 inches, with
a depth of 10 cm or less, and are ideal for
facilities with limited physical space and/
or budgets. LCD panels designed for video
walls are typically available with a 16:9 aspect
ratio at resolutions such as 1366 x 768 and
1920 x 1080. More recently, the availability
of ultra-thin bezel models – typically 7,3 mm
and 5,7 mm display-to-display – has made
LCD flat panels very popular in a broad
range of applications. The visual effect that
the bezels cause can be minimised if the
content to be displayed is properly managed
– e.g. the video wall behind the Supersport
commentators on DSTV.
LED displays and walls
LED displays produce very high brightness
and are frequently used outdoors or in
environments with high ambient light
conditions. These are generally not found
in industrial or security control room
environments.
Modular displays
A recent class of display products feature a
compact, modular display size comparable
to LED panels which are virtually seamless. This
is a new display technology used for creating
video walls with many different shapes and
configurations. Similar to LED systems, these
displays are not limited to standard aspect
ratios and can be a rectangle, square, or
some other abstract shape like a “plus”
or a “top hat” shape. Due to the very low
resolution of these modules, they are meant
more for digital signage where it will be
viewed from a distance, rather than 24/7
command and control where legibility from
close range is often necessary; or even
security applications where facial recognition
from CCTV camera images is required.
The design process
Establish the total available space
provided and available for the video wall.
Determine the desk and standing positions
of all operators and supervisors.
Choose between a straight wall and a
curved wall through a sight line study.
Using the same study, calculate the
bottom height from the floor where the
video wall should start and the top height
where it should end.
Decide on technology – DLP vs. LCD. DLP
is always preferred due to longer life span
and seamless displays if space and budget
constraints do not dictate otherwise.
Try to find enough space for rear
accessibility for maintenance of the wall –
this is generally preferred for DLP systems as
any servicing do not disturb the operators.
Identify what else needs to be placed on
the sides of the wall, e.g. company logos,
clocks, frequency indicators …
Now establish the maximum size and
desired shape.
Specify the aspect ratio and resolution of
individual displays.
Ask a supplier of video walls to calculate,
using the different screen-sizes that are
available for the aspect ratio specified in
(9.), to show the area that each screen size
will cover.
The configuration that covers the
maximum size the best, will dictate the size
and number of displays to be used.
The steps above are sufficient to sensibly
specify a video wall in terms of layout, size,
shape, front vs. rear access for maintenance,
display technology, aspect ratio, resolution,
display size, number of displays required, and
number and height of the supports on which
the displays will be installed.
Contact Hennie Barnard, EEU Taltronics,
Tel 011 393-3120, hennie@eeutal.co.za
October 2013 - EngineerIT