Computer Monitors

Computer Monitors come in various sizes, with different resolutions, brightness, contrast ratio, viewing angles and connectors. What do all these terminologies mean? Here is a list of features of a computer monitor with brief descriptions:-

Screen Size – The screen size of a monitor is specified by its diagonal measure. There are screens ranging from 15" to 47". Light users, who use computers only for browsing and emailing, could go in for small sized screens. Ardent gamers and entertainment enthusiasts can opt for a larger computer screen.

Resolution – This indicates the number of pixels on the display. It is specified by the number of pixels along a row and the number of pixels along a column. The more the resolution, the better the clarity.

Pixel – A pixel is the smallest or most basic programmable display unit. Each pixel can display one particular colour at one time.

Dot Pitch – The dot in a computer screen can be considered as the smallest physical display unit. The distance between 2 adjacent dots is called the dot pitch. The smaller the dot pitch, the better the sharpness of the image being displayed. Dot is different from pixel in that, dot is a physical unit and pixel is programmable. The resolution of a screen can be altered in the display settings. When the resolution is set to maximum, the number of dots and pixels are equal. When reduced, the dots remain the same, only the pixels reduce. In other words, multiple dots form one pixel.

Contrast ratio – This is the ratio of the amount of light given out by the brightest colour to the amount of light taken in by the darkest colour on the screen. Or it is the ratio of the luminance of brightest white to the darkest black colour on the monitor. The higher this ratio, the more the brightness levels offered by the screen, the better the picture quality.

Monitor Technology – Most often LCD TFT monitors are employed. However, some manufacturers are now employing OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays. An OLED monitor offers better brightness, more vivid pictures, larger viewing angles and better readability in sunlight, than an LCD monitor.

Viewing Angles – This is the angle from side to side of the screen within which the picture can be viewed clearly. An LCD monitor usually appears dark when viewed from the sides.

Response Time – This is the time taken by an LCD pixel to turn from active to inactive and then back to active state again. These days however, the response time is used to refer to the time taken for a pixel to change colour. The lower the response time, the lesser the blurring of images. Response times less than 16ms were considered optimum initially. These days, computer screens offer 2ms to 5ms response times.

Image Brightness – The image brightness refers to the maximum brightness the screen can support.

Connectors – Computer monitors have ports for interfacing with other devices. Some of the ports hosted by a computer monitor are USB, VGA, HDMI, headphone jacks, DVI etc.