Smart Buildings Systems for Architects, Owners and Builders

Plasma screens are basically a network of chemical compounds called phos-
phors contained between two thin layers of glass that when excited by an elec-
tric pulse, produce colors, light, and a picture. The image of a plasma screen is
bright, rich with color and has high resolution. Screens can be as large as 103
inches. Plasma screens are thin, lightweight, have a wide viewing angle and
offer good images under normal room-lighting conditions. The downsides
are that plasma can be pricey and also prone to “burn in.”
LCDs use a fluorescent backlight to send light through its liquid crystal
molecules. LCD monitors apply voltage to the pixels to adjust the darkness
of the pixels, thus preventing the backlight from showing through. An LCD
display can be as large as 100 inches. LCDs are very thin, lightweight, and
have good color reproduction and sharpness. LCDs are typically less costly
than plasma and may be more suitable for brightly lit areas.
The size and mounting of the monitors are both an architectural as well as a
functional issue. The size of the monitor should be dictated by the distance at
which people will be viewing the monitor. However, there are no rigid scien-
tific rules on display sizing and viewing distance.
A general rule of thumb can be the anticipated viewing distance should be 2 to
5 times the width (not the diagonal measurement but the width) of the monitor.
For example, a 2-foot-wide monitor is best viewed from 4 to 10 feet. This may

Server AdministrationStation

Digital Signage System

Processors

and

Controllers

Displays

Internet

Figure 8.3 Digital signage systems.

98 Smart Building Systems for Architects, Owners, and Builders