Display devices

WATCHOUT can be used with virtually any display technology that can be connected to a computer. Projectors, LCD panels, OLED screens and LED walls/processors are all widely used in WATCHOUT shows.

Display Resolution

The display resolution is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed, and is usually quoted as width by height. There are numerous display resolutions in the market but the most common ones are:

• 1024 x 768 (XGA)
• 1400 x 1050 (SXGA+)
• 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
• 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA)
• 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA)
• 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD)
• 4096 × 2160 (True 4K)
• 7680 × 4320 (8K UHD)
• 8192 × 4320 (True 8K)

WATCHOUT has no limitations regarding display resolution. If the display device supports it and the graphics card is capable of outputting the resolution, WATCHOUT will handle it.

Different outputs from the WATCHOUT media server can have different resolutions.

Aspect ratio

Each display has an aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of a display is the proportional relationship between its width and height, and is expressed by two numbers separated by a colon (x:y).

With the introduction of mobile devices, the number of display devices has grown tremendously and there are numerous aspect ratios in the market. However, for most projectors, monitors and screens used with WATCHOUT systems, the most common aspect ratios for displays are 16:9 and 16:10.

A resolution like 1920 x 1080 has a 16:9 aspect ratio, while WQXGA and WUXGA is 16:10.

Frame rate

The frame rate of a video file, usually expressed in frames per second or fps, is the frequency at which consecutive images are played back.

Modern video formats utilize a variety of frame rates, but because of the legacy from electric grid and analogue television broadcast, the most common frame rates have been 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Film has traditionally been shot at 24 frames per second, while video has been broadcast at 25/30 frames – with each frame doubled to match the 50/60Hz display.

New display devices can support higher refresh rates, up to 120, 240, or even 300 Hz per second.

WATCHOUT does not place any limitation on display refresh frequency, but is naturally limited by the performance of the graphics cards and the ability of the individual media server to move large amounts of data. In a WATCHOUT show, the operator must set a system-wide refresh rate to ensure correct playback synchronization.