Computer monitor

A discrete monitor comprises a visual display, support electronics, power supply, housing, electrical connectors, and external user controls.

The display in modern monitors is typically an LCD with LED backlight, having by the 2010s replaced CCFL backlit LCDs.

[1] A monitor is typically connected to its host computer via DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C, DVI, or VGA.

As early monitors were only capable of displaying a very limited amount of information and were very transient, they were rarely considered for program output.

Instead, a line printer was the primary output device, while the monitor was limited to keeping track of the program's operation.

Prior to the advent of home computers in the late 1970s, it was common for a video display terminal (VDT) using a CRT to be physically integrated with a keyboard and other components of the workstation in a single large chassis, typically limiting them to emulation of a paper teletypewriter, thus the early epithet of 'glass TTY'.

High-resolution CRT displays were developed for specialized military, industrial and scientific applications but they were far too costly for general use; wider commercial use became possible after the release of a slow, but affordable Tektronix 4010 terminal in 1972.

[7] CRTs still offer color, grayscale, motion, and latency advantages over today's LCDs, but improvements to the latter have made them much less obvious.

Throughout the 1990s, the primary use of LCD technology as computer monitors was in laptops where the lower power consumption, lighter weight, and smaller physical size of LCDs justified the higher price versus a CRT.

As volume and manufacturing capability have improved, the monochrome and passive color technologies were dropped from most product lines.

Among the first desktop LCD computer monitors were the Eizo FlexScan L66 in the mid-1990s, the SGI 1600SW, Apple Studio Display and the ViewSonic VP140[9] in 1998.

[7] The physical advantages of LCD over CRT monitors are that LCDs are lighter, smaller, and consume less power.

In terms of performance, LCDs produce less or no flicker, reducing eyestrain,[10] sharper image at native resolution, and better checkerboard contrast.

On the other hand, CRT monitors have superior blacks, viewing angles, and response time, can use arbitrary lower resolutions without aliasing, and flicker can be reduced with higher refresh rates,[11] though this flicker can also be used to reduce motion blur compared to less flickery displays such as most LCDs.

[13] High dynamic range (HDR)[11] has been implemented into high-end LCD monitors to improve grayscale accuracy.

This method continued even when cathode-ray tubes were manufactured as rounded rectangles; it had the advantage of being a single number specifying the size and was not confusing when the aspect ratio was universally 4:3.

Reasons for this transition included productive uses (i.e. field of view in video games and movie viewing) such as the word processor display of two standard letter pages side by side, as well as CAD displays of large-size drawings and application menus at the same time.

[15][16] In 2008 16:10 became the most common sold aspect ratio for LCD monitors and the same year 16:10 was the mainstream standard for laptops and notebook computers.

[17] In 2010, the computer industry started to move over from 16:10 to 16:9 because 16:9 was chosen to be the standard high-definition television display size, and because they were cheaper to manufacture.

This places standard ports within easy reach and eliminates the need for another separate hub, camera, microphone, or set of speakers.

Most often using nominally flat-panel display technology such as LCD or OLED, a concave rather than convex curve is imparted, reducing geometric distortion, especially in extremely large and wide seamless desktop monitors intended for close viewing range.

Newer monitors are able to display a different image for each eye, often with the help of special glasses and polarizers, giving the perception of depth.

Touch and tablet sensors are often used on sample and hold displays such as LCDs to substitute for the light pen, which can only work on CRTs.

The option for using the display as a reference monitor; these calibration features can give an advanced color management control for take a near-perfect image.

Near to mainstream professional feature; advanced hardware driver for backlit modules with local zones of uniformity correction.

Stands may be fixed or offer a variety of features such as height adjustment, horizontal swivel, and landscape or portrait screen orientation.

For computer monitors, the VESA Mount typically consists of four threaded holes on the rear of the display that will mate with an adapter bracket.

[23] Van Eck phreaking is the process of remotely displaying the contents of a CRT or LCD by detecting its electromagnetic emissions.

It is named after Dutch computer researcher Wim van Eck, who in 1985 published the first paper on it, including proof of concept.