Original Source: https://vuwall.com/overcoming-perceived-limitations-of-distributed-video-wall-technology/

Demystifying Distributed Video Wall Technology

The growing popularity of distributed video wall technology is supported by many factors, including the increased demand for large yet cost-effective video walls, the demand for solutions that are flexible and scalable, and the adoption of AV-over-IP technology. Compared to traditional video wall technology, a distributed video wall promotes increased scalability and flexibility. It offers the possibility to integrate multiple networked processing nodes or appliances working together to create a single canvas.

UNIQUE ADVANTAGES of Distributed Video Walls

Distributed video walls provide many unique advantages over traditional video walls that use Windows-based or FPGA-based technology. Let’s have a closer look at the main advantages:

Scalability: A traditional video wall is limited in size. It is based on the number of cards or modules that can fit in an enclosure or chassis; meanwhile, a distributed video wall is incredibly scalable – the size is theoretically unlimited. To expand a distributed video wall, simply adding another node for additional outputs or increased processing power is easy, much more feasible and more cost-effective.
Reliability: A hardware failure with traditional video wall controllers will affect an entire video wall and would result in losing visibility of the entire video wall. Fortunately, a hardware failure in a distributed video wall deployment would only affect the portion of the wall powered by the specific node or appliance that failed.
Cost-Effectiveness: The overall cost of a distributed video wall is significantly lower due to reduced hardware requirements. A distributed video wall eliminates bulky hardware and reduces the requirements for cables and extenders since the small form-factor of the nodes allows them to be mounted directly behind the displays instead of being installed in a distant rack. These nodes only need to be connected to power and to the network, which also removes the need for high-resolution video extenders.

PERCEIVED LIMITATIONS of Distributed Video Walls

Despite the advantages of distributed video walls, there are still some perceived limitations, but not to worry, all of these can be overcome with the right solutions. Here are some of the perceived limitations that you DON’T need to worry about:

Configuration and troubleshooting: Since each appliance or node is driving a single display, a distributed video wall results in more devices on a network. When looking for a distributed video wall solution, it is important to consider one that offers easy configuration and troubleshooting tools.
Latency: There is a concern in distributing everything over IP. It requires the content to be encoded, sent over the network, decoded and displayed. With today’s technology, it is possible for a distributed video wall solution to reach the same or even better latency than with traditional video wall controllers. It is an important aspect to consider when selecting the right distributed video wall technology.
Interoperability: Typically, manufacturers support one codec or streaming protocol, which means all sources have to be encoded with the same parameters before they can be sent to the video wall. This can be a limiting factor in applications where a high variety of sources with different levels of performance and resolution need to be displayed, such as dashboards, web pages, cameras, KVM stations, etc… Selecting a control software and hardware platform, that is interoperable and can support a variety of protocols and formats, is the key to overcoming this limitation.
Security: Network-based products cause security concerns, primarily if the underlying technology or operating system is known to have vulnerabilities, such as with Windows-based nodes, among others. This is why it is important to consider a solution that is not based on an underlying technology that is susceptible to security vulnerabilities.

Why the movement towards Distributed Video Walls?

The progress of the AV-over-IP transition, the convergence of AV and IT, the affordability of networks, display, and required equipment, and the market demand for more flexibility and interoperability, has created a unique need for a distributed video wall product that addresses and solves all of the challenges and limitations.

Rescued by the PAK!

VuWall’s PAK™ video wall nodes eliminate complicated wiring, a single point of failure, and other challenges by creating a secure, reliable, flexible and efficient networked video wall solution. Recently launched, PAK brings an innovative way to deploy and manage modular video walls in AV-over-IP environments. PAK is a networked multi-decode node that can also efficiently operate as a standalone device. For large displays, PAK can easily be stitched with other nodes to build an IP-based video wall that is infinitely scalable to power a single large single canvas. PAK simplifies video wall integration by reducing the number of endpoints, minimizing project risk and improving reliability.

As part of VuWall’s ecosystem, PAK is managed by VuWall’s award-winning TRx software platform. Together, the award-winning PAK & TRx solutions offer a fast and easy way to build and manage a reliable and flexible video wall system over a distributed network, overcoming all perceived limitations and those of traditional video walls.

Click here to request a PAK Demo

Original Source: https://vuwall.com/microled-and-control-software-for-modern-control-rooms/

VuWall began a close collaboration and partnership with Samsung two years ago. It all began with Kim Rasmussen, who leads the Command & Control Room group for all of Europe out of Denmark. Since then, we’ve also been closely collaborating with other Samsung teams in the UK, Canada, and the US. Kim has graciously offered to author the article below and give us some great insights about microLED technology and modernizing today’s control rooms.

Written by Kim Rasmussen – European Business Development Manager, Command & Control at Samsung Electronics

Kim Rasmussen is the European Control Room specialist at Samsung and has more than 25 years of experience in the AV and Control Room market. Prior to Samsung, he was as an entrepreneur, owning an AV consulting company focused on developing advanced AV & LED solutions. In his spare time, Kim enjoys mountain biking, fishing, and cooking all year around on his outdoor barbecue.

The Shift in Display Technology

The early incarnation of the rear-projection cube, consisting of a projector and a screen, was the traditional and historical video solution for control rooms. The mechanics of the rear-projection cube consist of multiple displays configured like building blocks or Legos. At the time, the large displays were eye-catching solutions for displaying key details for mission-critical environments. However, the challenge was to create one complete control room display with multiple projectors and remain in sync across the entire canvas. Today, this dated technology requires regular maintenance and recalibration of the displays to remain in sync.

The adoption of more modern display technology, such as LCD and LED, has provided significant advantages for control room design. The main benefit is the simplicity of implementation and service, small footprint, and extended lifespan. Similar to rear-projection cubes, LCD has black lines in the picture, an expected lifetime of around 50,000 hours and requires calibration every year to achieve the maximum picture quality. However, the introduction of LEDs has dominated the market for the last two years. In 2019, more than 50% of all control rooms were equipped with LED.

Introducing “The Wall” MicroLED

Since then, Samsung has heavily invested in research and development to create the next generation of LED technology, MicroLED. It’s a game-changer for modern control room design and operations. Our new MicroLED display, The Wall, is a module-based display that can be configured in almost any size and shape. Like the antiquated rear-projection cube, The Wall can easily be paired with additional displays to create a large visual solution, but a significant advantage to The Wall is that it has zero bezels, meaning there are no disturbing black lines in the content. It has an expected lifetime of 150.000 hours, offer signal and power redundancy and an off-board power option.

Amplifying Visualization with Management Software

Paired with VuWall’s video wall processors, users can move the content around on their displays, create presets, visualize various sources and source types, while arranging and rearranging them on the screen in an unlimited combination of ways. It creates a flexible display solution that offers one huge canvas for the ultimate visualization experience.

The Wall implements video wall processing considerations in the display. Compared to typical LED solutions, The Wall’s MicroLED technology delivers very black surface and very high contrast to enable users to visualize more detail in their display that they wouldn’t normally see. This is a critical component of providing control room operators with the information they need to make quick and informed decisions. To amplify the visualization experience further, adding VuWall’s TRx Centralized Management Platform to manage and control The Wall enhances real-time, informed decision-making by providing a flexible solution for organizations to effectively manage and distribute any visual content on all displays surfaces and video walls, whether LCD or LED. A key benefit of VuWall’s TRx is that it’s designed for anyone. TRx software provides an easy-to-use and intuitive drag-and-drop interface to allow anyone with basic technical knowledge to create their own custom user experience.

The VuWall & Samsung Partnership

TRx is certified to be easily paired with video displays, such as The Wall from Samsung, to provide a seamless video wall solution. TRx is built on an open architecture, making it interoperable by design, to help integrators and customers easily deploy video wall projects in a multi-brand environment. With TRx, operators can easily manage and distribute AV content across The Wall with easy drag-and-drop functionality. Operators have the freedom to change layouts and control devices with a simple touch.

VuWall and Samsung have united to provide integrators and consultants with a simple approach to control room design and integration. Together, we have removed a lot of the complexity in AV deployments and reduced time and risk during field installation while providing end-users more autonomy after the deployment.