4k

Origin of 4k

4k, when referred to as ‘Ultra HD’, typically refers to a resolution featuring four times the pixels of Full HD (1920x1080): 3,840 pixels wide and 2,160 pixels high.  With larger display sizes, 4k provides more detailed and less pixilated images than Full HD (FHD).  4k can deliver vastly superior image quality and mitigate visible pixel structures on the screen.  What does this really mean for viewers?  Full HD content is still more readily available than 4k content and can be upscaled on monitors with native 4k resolution for overall better picture quality.  If 4k content is available, it can be shown in its native resolution for unparalleled sharpness and clarity.  As 4k content becomes more common, the demand for native 4k displays is bound to increase.

Why 4k?

Many in the AV industry have been working with complex HD content for quite some time in the context of video wall installations.  The current trend points to an increasing demand for single displays supporting 4k.  One major benefit to this is the complete absence of bezels. 

Conference rooms, control centers, and collaborative work environments are continuously being updated as computers with graphics cards supporting 4k are increasingly incorporated.  Some in pro AV question the necessity of 4k, save for the odd medical or workstation application.  However, we must keep in mind that invention can be the mother of necessity.  As the average end-user has now been exposed to 4k, we can anticipate even less-demanding applications such as advertising begin to incorporate 4k.  In short, even users without a true need for 4k will likely demand it as it begins to supplant Full HD as the industry standard for large-format displays. 

Content, Content, Content

Media player and graphics card manufacturers are focusing more and more on supporting 4k output via the familiar, now-ubiquitous DisplayPort and HDMI formats.  Video card manufacturers currently offer solutions supporting 4k, and PC developers are forecasting a huge boost in 4k support thru notebooks and laptops by next year.  Additionally, windowing processor manufacturers have begun to support 4k resolutions by offering Dual-link DVI inputs and outputs. 

What are we using 4k for?  4k video is still growing and content that is engaging, rich, and artistic will make 4k stand out in comparison to standard HD displays.  While the medical field is perhaps the best-known early adopter of 4k technology, high-end retail and corporate lobby spaces increasingly incorporate 4k content on both video walls and 4k-native displays.

Be Ahead of the Competition

Like many AV trends in the past, 4k appears to be on the verge of a true breakthrough.  Unlike the passing fad of 3D, it appears that 4k is here to stay.  In contrast to the 3D “wave” that has crested and fallen within the last few years, 4k does not require any additional equipment or place any new demands on the viewing public.  It may seem as if the 4k breakthrough we speak of here is a long way off but continued developments in content, content delivery and display hardware indicate otherwise.  4k displays have already begun to show significant reductions in pricing. 

Are you ready for 4k?  We can’t answer that question for you.  But when 4k does reach its new heights, don’t say we didn’t warn you.  GPO US can help you find the right 4k display hardware and make informed recommendations on sources, content and more to ensure that you are ready.

Find out more about GPO US 4k: http://gpous.com/xe/index.php?mid=display&document_srl=7011#specs