3. Television screens

A television is quite a popular way of displaying IT or computer related output.

TV output device

For example, video consoles connect to a television screen for maximum impact. Smart TVs connect to the internet directly and so can view content directly such as videos or catch-up services.

Every year the screen size available seems to become larger and now TV screens up to 60" or more are available.

A standard TV screen is '720p' which means it is 720 pixels down and 1280 pixels across. This is OK for displaying video but not so good for viewing text.

A 1080p screen is 1080 pixels down and 1920 pixels across which is far better for displaying text information. This is excellent for High Definition (HD) and Blu-ray content.

Uses of television screens:

  • TV screens in the home
  • As computer monitors for watching downloaded video / films
  • Screens in public areas for information, advertising or displays
  • Screens in video conferencing suites for meetings
Advantages of plasma screens Disadvantages of television screens
Very large screen size Standard 720p resolution not good for displaying text compared to 1080p
Thin profile, sometimes only an inch depth. Has to be viewed from a distance compared to a standard computer monitor
Large viewing angle (160 degrees) compared to LCD screens (40 degrees) Large TVs need a lot of room around it for comfortable viewing
Brighter display than rear projection TVs More expensive than a standard computer monitor
Unaffected by magnetism (unlike old CRTs)  
Can be mounted on a wall or free standing - more flexibility than other screens  

Challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you

Click on this link: HD and Blu-Ray TV screen resolutions