Use dials or twist-turn knobs to alter settings, such as brightness or contrast. These settings cannot be saved for future recall but are ideal for quick access to certain functions that users like to change frequently.

LCD monitors with an analog interface can accept an analog video signal using standard RGB connectors for personal computers, in the same way as a CRT monitor. The analog signal is then converted into the digital signal used for display on a LCD panel. LCD monitors with only a digital interface require a dedicated graphics adapter and connectors, which come in varied formats.

(Analog/Digital converter) A device that converts continuously varying analog signals from instruments that monitor such conditions as movement, temperature, sound, etc., into binary code for the computer. It may be contained on a single chip or can be one circuit within a chip.

(American National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display Terminal Workstations). Organization that produces publications concerning the ergonomics of monitors.

A treated glass panel that is placed over a monitor screen to reduce glare.  

The ratio of the width of the picture to the height. For most current monitors, this ratio is 4:3. For HDTV, the ratio will be 16:9 or 16:10.

Saves the time of manually tracking monitors across the network. Allows the retrieval of key asset-tracking information, such as monitor make, model, and serial number, when the monitor is used with a Compaq PC supporting Intelligent Manageability and appropriate network software. This information is especially useful for network administrators.

A special one-touch Auto Adjust button allows users to quickly set the display panel to match their preferences and provides users with excellent front-of-screen performance and minimal set up.

Same as Auto Adjust.

An LCD screen that has its own light source from the back of the screen, making the background brighter and characters appear sharper.

The speed, measured in megahertz, at which the data can be accepted from the CPU/graphics adapter to the monitor. A greater speed means that higher resolutions can be shown with more brightness and clarity.

The light level on a display screen.

Defines the whiteness of the white on the screen. Variations are measured in degrees Kelvin. Natural colors used in life-like images, such as people or landscapes, look more true to life when displayed at a color temperature of 6500K. Black text on a white page is better represented by a color temperature of 9300K.

Color matching refers to the process of accurate duplication of colors between the display and either input (like a VGA card) or output (like a printer). An LCD display with color matching stores color-related parameters in special memory called EEPROM, and uses this data for optimization, providing benefits such as WYSIWYG printing and faithful representation of Web graphics.

The difference between the lightest and darkest areas on a display screen

Short for Display Data Channel, a VESA standard for communication between a monitor and a video adapter. Using DDC, a monitor can inform the video card about its properties, such as maximum resolution and color depth. The video card can then use this information to ensure that the user is presented with valid options for configuring the display.

Display Data Channel 1. A uni-directional data channel from the display to the host, continuously transmitting Extended Display Indentification, EDID information.

Display Data Channel 2. A bi-directional data channel based on the 12C protocol. The host can request EDID or VDIF information over the DDC2 channel. In addition to this, the DDc2 channel can act as a transparent channel for ACCESS.bus communication.

Specific frequencies at which the monitor (and/or computer) can display text or graphical information. Most monitors today support several frequencies. This is called multifrequency or multi-scanning, and it ensures that the monitor will perform with a variety of computers and applications.

A measurement of distance between the centers of two same-color phosphor dots on the screen. The closer the dots, the smaller the dot pitch, and the sharper the image.

(Digital Visual Interface) A digital flat panel interface from the Digital Display Working Group (www.ddwg.org). The DDWG was formed to create a universal standard for attaching a flat panel monitor, and DVI is expected to become widely used. Based on TMDS signaling, the final draft of DVI was introduced in early 1999.

A program established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a partnership with the computer industry to promote the introduction of energy-efficient personal computers which help reduce air pollution caused by power generation. This program was formally launched on June 17, 1993. To comply with the Energy Star guidelines, a computer system or monitor must consume less than 30 watts of power in its lowest power state.

VESA Standard Physical Mounting Interface Standard

The number of lines illuminated on a video screen in one second. For example, a resolution of 400 lines refreshed 60 times per second requires a scan rate of 24KHz plus overhead (time to bring the beam back to the beginning of the next line). See also Scan Rate.

Every other line is scanned during each total vertical (full) screen refresh.

A circuit that converts DC current into AC current.

(Liquid Crystal Display) An LCD contains two grooved plates which are sandwiched together with liquid crystals along the top plate lining up in one direction, and those along the bottom line up in another direction. The entire panel is then "backlit" so that when light travels through the panel, it shows through the spaces between the crystals.

(Low Voltage Differential Signalling) A transmission method for sending digital information to a flat panel display. LVDS has been widely used in laptops because it enables fewer wires to be used between the motherboard and the panel. The technology is also used between the image scaler and the panel in many stand-alone flat panel displays.

The ability to offer at least one preset mode that will synchronize with a Macintosh computer.

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For LCD Monitors designed in compliance with VESA Standard Physical Mounting Interface Standard (FPMPM), users may choose mounting solutions from professional arm manufacturers. For example,

Provides reduced electrostatic and electromagnetic emissions. MPR 1990, or MPR-II, is a standard defined to measure emissions from devices such as monitors.

Automatically adjusts the monitor to the display card’s scanning frequency, thus displaying the resolution required.

(National Electrical Manufacturers Association) develops standards for the electrical manufacturing industry.

http://www.nema.org/

See the table in the end for the explanation of the different types of NEMA seals-Enclosures For Non-Hazardous Locations.

(The Swedish Board for Technical Accreditation). This council produces specifications for automatic power-down and power consumption during normal operation.

Monitors that allow users to swivel the display 90 degrees and place the screen image in portrait orientation.

(PIX [picture] ELement) The smallest addressable unit on a display screen. The higher the pixel resolution (the more rows and columns of pixels), the more information can be displayed.

Color systems use a red, green and blue dot per pixel, each of which is energized to different intensities, creating a range of colors perceived as the mixture of these dots. Black is all three dots dark, white is all dots light.

The frequency or speed at which individual pixels (picture elements) in an image are written to the screen. The higher the pixel clock speed, the less likely there will be flicker.

Monitors that allow users to swivel the display 90 degrees and place the screen image in portrait orientation.

Measures the speed that the entire screen is rescanned. Higher frequencies reduce flicker, because they light the pixels more frequently, reducing the dimming that causes flicker; also called vertical frequency.

In common usage, this refers to the number of pixels displayed on screen horizontally and vertically. Higher resolution means that you can see more of your image on the screen without scrolling or panning.

This figure indicates how quickly an LCD panel can display a change in the brightness of the screen image. It is calculated as the sum of the times needed for the image to change from 10% to 90% of its maximum brightness, and from 90% to 10%. Faster response times allow a smoother display of rapidly-changing screen images, such as real-time video.

Swiveling the display 90 degrees and place the screen image in portrait/ landscape orientation.

The ability of the monitor to display or scale a variety of different resolution signals to the screen while also maintaining the aspect ratio of the image.

A measurement of distance between the centers of two same-color stripes that make up a screen image. The closer the stripes, the smaller the stripe pitch, and the sharper the image.

The labeling scheme was developed as a joint effort by the TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), Natursikyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) and NUTEK (The National Board for Industry and Technical Development in Sweden). The requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, usability, emission of electrical and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical and fire safety.
The environmental demands concern, among other things, restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs (freons), and chlorinated solvents. The product must be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental plan, which must be adhered to in each country where the company implements its operational policy.

The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or display shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level after a certain period of inactivity, in one or more stages. The length of time to reactivate the computer shall be reasonable for the user.
Labeled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example in respect of the reduction of electric and magnetic fields, along with physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.

The ability for the monitor head to either move up and down (tilt) or side to side (swivel).

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(Underwriters Laboratory). A non-profit safety organization in the U.S. that inspects and certifies the products sold in the U.S. and Canada for their safety standards.

Also called "refresh rate," it is the number of times an entire display screen is refreshed, or redrawn, per second. Measured in Hertz, display systems typically range from 56Hz to well over 100Hz. A minimum of 70Hz is recommended to help prevent eye strain.

Video Electronic Standards Association. A group made up from the video electronics industry to review proposals and develop standards to promote uniformity and economies of scale in the video electronics industry.

(VESA Display Power Management Signaling) A VESA standard for signaling the monitor to switch into energy conservation modes. It provides for two low energy modes: standby and suspend.

The horizontal or vertical angle at which the user can view the screen image with no loss of color fidelity or image clarity.