A monitor or display in computers comprises of the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure. The display device in the modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), while the older monitors use a cathode ray tube (CRT). The first-ever flat panel television was introduced in 1998 by Philips. Flat panel displays (usually called Flatscreen) encompass a growing number of technologies. They can be divided into two general categories - volatile and static.

Volatile displays require pixels to be periodically refreshed to retain their state, even for a static image. This refresh typically occurs many times a second. If this is not done, the pixels will gradually lose their coherent state, and the image will "fade" from the screen. There are seven types of possible volatile displays. Plasma displays, LCDs, OLEDs, LEDs and ELDs  are commercially available today, though OLED displays are beginning deployment only in small sizes (mainly in cellular phones). 

LED as a technology

Now talking about LED, there are essentially two kinds of LEDs: single tube LEDs and LED screens. Single tube LEDs include LED back-lighting (often used in laptops), and infrared LED (used in optoelectronics like TV remotes). The LED screen is a full monitor composed of arranged lighting that can be used for computers and televisions. 

• LED vs LCD

To begin with, let us compare LCD with one of the most popular forms of monitors. One main difference between both kinds of monitors is in terms of their backlighting techniques. This is very important as lighting techniques influence the quality of the picture and this acts as an important factor which influences the user's buying decision. 

The next important differentiator is the contrast both monitors offer. The colour accuracy presented by them and the viewing angles join the list too. Many users consider LED monitors to be better than LCD. 

On being asked the possibility if LED can replace LCD, Gautam Ghosh, Country Manager, ViewSonic Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., replied, "LED TVs are technically a member of the LCD TV family. The display screen on an LED is a liquid crystal display the same as it is on any other LCD TV. The main difference between the two lies with different backlighting techniques which may change the picture quality characteristics dramatically. So, the LED technology will coexist with the LCD technology."

To this, Ranjit Yadav, Director - Mobile & IT, Samsung India, adds that the LED technology which conforms to the "Green computing" commitment which the industry is promoting these days will coexist along with LCD at the moment at least. 

LED and Today

In today's corporate world, people can't work without two important things -  laptop/PC and mobile phone. Our PC monitors or laptops are continuously on till the time we are in office. 

Well, now everyone is aware of the fact that electricity is the major area of concern for India. Every year, a large number of projects come up which need uninterrupted supply of power. In order to get the desired energy, we are burning more coal, which increases the emission of carbons, which in turn affects the environment. If the LED technology can help in reducing power consumption, this will, in turn, automatically save coal and thus effectively save environment.

Ghosh added, "Green computing means the environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources. Such practices include the implementation of energy-efficient CPUs, servers and peripherals as well as reduced resource (electricity) consumption and proper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste). And LED saves power, which in turn saves environment. So, it has become synonym of 'Green Computing'."

Other advantages of LED backlighting are its low TCO, longer life, immunity to vibration, low operational voltage, and precise control over its intensity and DCR. The compact size of LEDs has allowed new text and video displays and sensors to be developed, while their high switching rates are useful in advanced communication technology. While the main drawback of LCD is that it requires more power than LED, thus making its TCO much higher. Since CRT has already reached EoL for more than a year now, it is believed that in a year or two, LED products are expected to completely take over the market. 

Samsung introduced its LED TVs first in the Indian market. After unveiling TVs last year, the company plans to introduce LED monitors soon. “We will be launching LED monitors in this ongoing quarter. Based on the response for the LED televisions, we are quite optimistic about the success of LED monitors as well,” shares Yadav.

LED sees its usage in TVs, monitors and Netbooks or Notebooks. Recently, BenQ launched world's slimmest LED monitor. With this, they are expanding their LED offerings with the launch of three new V Series models spanning HD to Full HD, 18.5”W to 24”W, bringing the company's total LED lineup to eight models. 

LEDs positioning amongst Channel

In the IT space, we have SI, VAR and Reseller channel, and in the past few years organized retail chains are also emerging as one more means of reaching to the customer. Regular channels - be it resellers or retailers - all are involved in the selling of LED displays. Vendors are trying to create awareness amongst customers about the benefits of using LED monitors. As a result of this, customers can really come to know the power saving advantage of LED.At the same time, they can save the environment. For example, Samsung is focussing on the performance and environment-friendly aspects of these products in all their communication to both channel and end-customer. 

Viewsonic has created a dedicated micro site for their LED monitors like VX1601w-LED and VX1932WM-LED and GO Green benefits. Also, they send EDMs on "Go Green" to all their channel partners and end-consumers.

If ViewSonic is focussing on reseller channel for selling LED monitors and announcing regular channel schemes for "Finch Club Members", then Mukesh Gupta, Director, TPV Technology Group & Head of TPV Operations for India, Middle East and SAARC Countries, informs, "AOC is very strongly pushing the LED segment with dealer incentive programmes and sales schemes. Simultaneously, our marketing campaign is targeted primarily on building LED Range branding."

Samsung India expect the volume of LED TVs to grow from around 40,000 units to about 200,000-300,000 number this year. They are expecting 30% of their Flat Panel TV sales in volume to come from LED TV sales alone. Similar successful adoption would be visible for LED monitors as well. 

The picture is always not rosy. Likewise, the LED technology also has some drawbacks. One of its limitations is that white is not as bright as is viewed in the LCD monitors. And, its higher price in a price-sensitive market like India as compared to LCD cannot be overlooked.

To this, Yadav from Samsung, offered his view, "I think the price differential that one needs to pay for LED TVs/monitors will go once these products gain sufficient volumes. The awareness level on the benefits of LED technology, however, is steadily growing."

Gupta from AOC informed that AOC has taken a major initiative for Green Technology this year with a very strong focus and commitment on the LED range. "We already have LED monitors across all product sizes. Currently, the share of our LED range is only 15%, but we plan to take it to more than 50% by the year end. To give boost to the LED segment, we have entry-level, mid-level and high-end professional series across all product sizes."

Days ahead ...

In India, the response for LED technology is positive. If you talk about LED technology as a whole, in light, in television and in monitors, the future is promising. Besides televisions and monitors, the usage of LED technology is also found in numerous applications, including traffic lights, digital clocks, watches, remote controls and microwave oven time displays. 

Also, TFT monitors with LED technology have a promising future as LED technology should benefit further from the 3D technology. This format will be more readily available with LED technology. The football World Cup just held in June 2010 offered an excellent opportunity to this technology and the forthcoming most-awaited Commonwealth Games promises to be equally eventful for LED technology.

Thus, claiming ViewSonic to have launched the first LED monitor in India in the year 2009, Ghosh said, "After our 16” LED monitor very soon we are launching full range of LED monitors in India. ViewSonic has mapped the market well, demand of LED monitors will be huge in India and we will keep on providing LED monitors in different sizes and with new features."

As technology continues to advance, every aspect of laptop is being improved. The newest thing to be improved in laptops is the screen display. Traditionally, laptop back-lighting consisted of CCFL or fluorescent bulbs. However, the new trend of using LED back-lighting for monitor displays is hot.

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