Technology Showcase: LCDs for Houses of Worship

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Jay Ankeney

LCD flatpanels have varied responsibilities in worship facilities.

Sony's GXDL52H1 is a 52in. ruggedized LCD display designed for installation in public areas, thanks to its IP-30-rated dust- and tamper-resistant aluminum chassis. The GXDL52H1 boasts a field-replaceable protected glass front panel, networking and tuner options, and a full high-definition 1920×1080 panel. It can be used as part of a multidisplay videowall, and it incorporates Sony's burn-in-reducing LCD technology. In addition, Sony recommends its FWD-S47H1, a 47in. LCD display with a thin 19mm bezel, RS-232C port, serial and LAN control, 1000:1 contrast ratio, and high 700cd/m2 brightness rating. The FWD-S47H1 also has internal processors for videowall applications.

Featuring a 46in. color TFT active matrix, the CD4620 wide LCD display (22.5"×40.1") from ViewSonic offers 176-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles and a 1500:1 contrast ratio. With a lifespan of 60,000 hours on its light source, the CD4620 is designed for extended service in a sanctuary. It can come with On Screen Display (OSD) turn-off, information OSD, off timer, OSD H-position, and OSD V-position and monitor information. It also has a power-saving feature. ViewSonic also suggests its 42in. CD4220 commercial display, which features a slim bezel design that's ideal for public information. The high brightness and contrast ratio and wide viewing angles of the CD4220 clearly communicates any message regardless of ambient light. The CD4220 can also be used to create a 5×5 display videowall for heightened impact.

Westinghouse Digital claims the tenets of its new 1080p monitor line are versatility, dependability, and functionality. These are the foundation of the company's new 47in. VM-47F140S and 42in. D42FMP1 LCD displays, which any church, temple, or synagogue would love to look at. Both are designed to be green products because they are Energy Star-certified, RoHS-compliant, and made with recyclable materials. To create content for those displays, Westinghouse would recommend its M470SWP multisource AV digital-signage system with an intuitive icon-based user interface designed for dynamic content creation and management. The M470SWP comes with its own media player with a hard drive for media storage.