Today, with the rapid development of the Internet, "mass information" has become the iconic keyword of the current network. For users, how to face the explosive growth of massive information and let the information serve people instead of being used by them? Being overwhelmed and controlled by information has become a crucial problem that needs to be solved.
The use of dual-screen and multi-screen monitors frees users from the limitations of single-screen computers. According to the "Productivity and Multi-Screen display" research conducted in 2003 by the University of Utah funded by ATI NEC/Mitsubishi, the use of multi-screen displays can greatly improve the work of users. Efficiency and increased comfort. The number of times users switch back and forth between different documents and applications is reduced or even completely avoided, thereby shortening the time required to complete each task. % increase in productivity points, 29% increase in availability, 29% increase in task effectiveness, 45% easier task tracking, 32% faster execution, 17% easier adaptability, 28% easier access to task focus, 24% higher comfort, 19% easier error correction, and mobile information sources. Convenience 38% Table 1: Advantages of multi-screen applications over single-screen applications In fact, multi-screen displays have long been widely used in the military, financial securities and scientific research fields. However, due to the expensive hardware and the complexity of the settings at the time, Multi-screen apps have not gained widespread popularity. With the lowering of computer hardware thresholds, the popularity of LCD monitor prices, and the maturation of supporting software, more and more people are beginning to use multi-screen display systems for various personal applications such as entertainment and office work.
In order to cater to the public's demand for multi-screen, major graphics card manufacturers have launched graphics cards that support multi-screen display. This built-in motherboard slot-type graphics card provides two or more video output interfaces, which are plugged into the display screen directly or through an adapter, and multi-screen display and management are performed through drivers and system software. For example, Windows XP system supports multi-screen display. There are generally two display modes. One is copying or mirroring (Clone/Mirror mode). In this mode, all displays display the same content of the current desktop. Another way is the extended mode (Span/Extended desktop mode), which extends the current desktop display to other displays to expand the display range. In this display mode, users mainly drag and drop each display window to the corresponding display screen for display, thereby realizing the application of multiple display windows. Another biggest feature is that in this way, screen splicing can be performed so that all displays can display one picture at the same time to achieve picture expansion. Especially in the field of games and large-screen monitoring, this application has become one of the most important applications of multi-screen display.
However, with the widespread penetration of multi-screen applications and the expansion of application fields, the public’s demand for multi-screen applications has also become diversified. From simple screen expansion requirements to centralized display but relatively independent operation requirements, graphics card multi-screen solutions also face many problems in many applications:
1. Some applications do not allow the same user Run multiple instances of the program at the same time, but the user needs to display different screens of the program on each display. For example, in the securities and futures industry, market monitoring needs to display different market pictures. If the software does not support running multiple instances at the same time, the multi-screen graphics card solution will be powerless.
2. Program management is displayed on the desktop and taskbar on the main display. Windows displayed on the extended screen often affect other displays, especially the main display. For example, instant messaging tools such as QQ displayed on the extended screen will flash on the taskbar of the main display when there are new messages, interfering with the work of the main screen. In addition, for some full-screen movie playback screens, game screens, etc., program display changes on other displays will often cause these screens to automatically exit the full-screen state. This interference often becomes an important factor in reducing user experience and work efficiency.
3. For applications such as securities and futures market reading, company office, real-time multi-screen monitoring, etc., this relatively independent multi-screen display method is required. Work mainly in one area, and other extended screens are only used as monitoring displays or reference comparison displays. Changes in these areas cannot interfere with other screen areas, especially the main work area. For example, in real-time trading of stocks and futures, when traders need to place orders quickly and quickly, if the display area for placing orders is often interfered by other display area programs, the consequences for such real-time trading applications with high speed requirements may be is very serious.
4. The program is started and managed by the user dragging the menus and screens in the main display to "roam" to the extended screen. For cases with a large number of screens, especially 6 or even 8 screens In this case, this method of moving back and forth between the main screen and the extended screen is very laborious to operate.
5. The use of multi-screen graphics cards requires some professional computer knowledge, settings and driver installation, etc., which is relatively difficult for users who do not understand computers. Moreover, as we all know, computer crashes, blue screens and other failures caused by graphics cards are very common.
Therefore, multi-screen solutions implemented using graphics card technology will inevitably encounter similar problems, such as software incompatibility and driver conflicts, which seriously trouble users' normal use. In this case, for multi-screen applications, new breakthroughs and new solutions are needed to adapt to the new needs of users. There are technology companies in the industry that are the first to break through the traditional graphics card multi-screen solution and innovatively and skillfully design a new generation of multi-screen computers with patented technology, which are widely used in many fields such as market reading and trading, corporate office work, and real-time monitoring. This new generation of multi-screen computers does not rely on graphics cards to achieve multi-screen display, but creatively uses desktop virtualization technology. Each display screen is virtualized into a workstation with independent functions. The operations are completely independent and do not affect each other. They run on All programs on this screen are managed and displayed in this window. And equipped with a multi-function keyboard, a set of keyboard and mouse can complete all operations on the display screen. It fully and effectively meets the functional requirements of "multi-screen display, centralized operation, and independent operation" of user applications.
1. The new generation of multi-screen computers provides a complete set of multi-screen display solutions. The host, monitor, keyboard and stand base have all been carefully optimized and designed to be practical and beautiful, giving users a new high-end operating experience.
2. Simple operation. The entire system only requires a 220V power supply. No complicated settings and installations are required, and no professional computer knowledge is required. This multi-screen computer system can be used conveniently and quickly.
3. Each screen has independent functions. Users can freely configure the application screen of each screen according to the application situation, and the display operations do not interfere with each other.
4. It has strong scalability and can easily integrate the original computer host into a multi-screen system to achieve the functions of internal and external network isolation, host isolation and application isolation.
5. Since it does not rely on the graphics card to achieve multi-screen display, users can still configure and expand the computer system like a normal computer. You can even continue to use graphics cards that support multi-screen output and "mix and match" multiple solutions to achieve applications in special occasions.
6. The power consumption is extremely low. Each additional screen only increases the power consumption by about 2W in addition to the power consumption of the display. It is green, environmentally friendly and energy-saving, creating a healthy working environment.
Future Outlook
As a breakthrough and innovative product in the field of multi-screen applications, the new generation of multi-screen computers does not completely subvert the traditional graphics card multi-screen technology solution. Compared with screen computers, each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and each is suitable for different applications. For example, in the gaming field and large-screen splicing occasions, it is still an important stage for graphics card multi-screen solutions to show their talents. At the same time, these two solutions are completely compatible and can be used together. For example, in the new generation of multi-screen computer systems, users can configure multiple screens of the graphics card to expand the screen, while the remaining screens are used to operate the display independently to complete some complex application requirements.
In short, as users’ demands for multi-screen applications become increasingly refined and diversified, more and more new solutions will be developed in the field of multi-screen applications in the future, and it is foreseeable that The coexistence of multiple solutions and simultaneous collaboration are an important feature of the future multi-screen era.