Although not a novelty to this day and age, video walls are still amazing sights and catch everyone who spots them. A video wall consists of multiple monitors arranged together to create the visual of one large screen. This has several benefits. For a start, the resolution and quality are greatly enhanced, and perhaps more importantly, its reach and engagement power is incomparable.

Video walls are useful in any large setting and can be used in multiple ways, but this isn’t the only benefit. Let’s take a look at more.

1. Higher content quality

The quality of sizable content is, without a doubt, the primary reason for the existence of video walls. This platform allows for higher resolutions than ever before as the resolution itself increases with each individual display added to this digital puzzle. This means that not only is the size of content increased, but also its resolution and quality, which can be easily calculated by summing up the width and height of all screens in your video wall. As you can see, with each added screen, the overall resolution increases:

Once you’ve calculated your resolution, you can adjust your digital signage software accordingly to match it and display content that fits your video wall like a glove. Of course, keep in mind that you should also have content that matches the screen resolution in order to achieve optimal results.

The thought of a replacing a video wall with a projector may have crossed your mind, however, video walls offer superior quality, brightness and better contrast ratios than any projector, allowing them to be used in environments where there is plenty of light present.

2. Durable, with variable processing power

Video Walls are made to be more than just a large screen. In fact, most videowall systems are designed to be durable and active for longer periods of time.

Unlike projectors, video walls neither contain parts that are consumed over time nor do they require frequent maintenance. In essence, a video wall system is designed to function 24/7 with minimal maintenance needs. Meanwhile, the projector may be cheaper and simpler to install, but it requires downtime after a certain period of activity, and it also occasionally needs a bulb replacement. This isn’t the only difference between the two though.

To ensure superior content quality video walls have compared to any other platform, an adequate video processor is a must. The video wall processor is responsible for maintaining the content on the displays and ensuring it runs smoothly.

There are several processor types and they vary in complexity and features. Certain processors will allow for a limited number of inputs/outputs: an acceptable solution if your video wall needs are simple and change infrequently. However, the fixed number of inputs/outputs limits the number of output displays and input sources they support. There are also more complex processors designed to ensure a video wall runs at peak efficiency, even with the highest demands. This is why the processor is often described as the most important part of a video wall system.

3. Flexibility, with many variations

One would assume that video walls are usually used to display from a single source of content, which is true in many cases, but this doesn’t mean they are limited to that form. A videowall is more than just a standard display multiplied in size.

Many software providers offer content management and display in, shall we say, unusual video wall forms and shapes, allowing you to choose from different sizes and shapes of your video wall composition. Using specific mounting equipment, you can fix your displays to the wall, or have them in a free-standing position.

Video walls can be used in a variety of ways: displaying statistics, scores, announcements, or even used in live events to enhance the experience and engage the audience to the maximum extent.

A video wall can display content stretched across all connected displays, or it can be programmed to display unique content for each display: a setting commonly used for tracking scores or similar information that would fit that pattern.

4. Works great with interactivity

You can already imagine how amazing a videowall would be if it were interactive to the touch. Well, this feature is pretty common and is taken into consideration when building video walls. As we’ve seen, videowall processors ensure everything runs smoothly, including maintaining a fluent display of content if the video wall is used by several people at once.

Browsing through maps, searching for data or even playing games on an interactive video wall are all valid uses, and above all, they are highly engaging. Basic interactive digital signage already draws significant attention to itself; imagine then how much attention a video wall can attract.

5. Useful for any industry

A video can be of terrific use for any industry you can name. It allows for content to be displayed in an extraordinary fashion and more efficiently than a standard digital display. However, certain environments can benefit from them more than others.

Advertisement can be an excellent use for a video wall and can even be used for selling advertising space if the location is prime.

Video Walls are as appealing as digital displays were when they first presented themselves to the world. They are interesting and attractive to the eye and they still distract us with ease since we didn’t quite reach the point where we only glance at them like we do standard billboards. Unlike a billboard that we only glance shortly, we are still somewhat amazed when a video wall illuminates a massive area and are compelled to look. This is why advertisements are more effective when used on this platform, especially quick-paced interesting advertisements because they build on the engagement a video wall naturally provides. In a way, one may view video walls as a powerful tool that helps content get a head start, regardless of its type.

6. Made for entertainment

Entertainment and video walls are an excellent combination, precisely because of the aforementioned eye-catching factor.

If human beings cared solely about efficiency, there would be no need for flashy technology. To put it bluntly, that’s exactly what video walls are. Thinking outside the box can get you far when it comes to entertainment. Using video walls in a creative and entertaining way can catch attention and ignite curiosity in every viewer.

One example of a unique yet entertaining use for video walls can be see in a busy pub in Florida, where video walls were used to enhance the ambience of the pub, transforming the walls into realistic windows any patron would enjoy.

Video walls easily represent one of the peaks of digital signage applications. Even though they’ve been present for a while now, they can still be used in innovative, entertaining and engaging ways. If your business greatly depends on engagement, there is no better tool than a video wall.

Investment in video walls is certainly not going to be cheap. However, provided it is used aptly in your business setting, it can be earn the desired return.

Images by Robert Scoble, Useful.com and Digital Signage Connection.