Tags: computer display, image quality, laptop, luminance, Notebooks, outdoor readability performance, TCO Certified, TCO Certified Edge
Achieving Readability in outdoor environments has to date been problematic for notebook displays as they have not delivered sufficient luminance to counteract the ambient daylight.
In a major step forward for notebook usability, leading edge PC brands are now beginning to offer select notebooks designed to meet the specific outdoor performance needs of the mobile user, specifically higher luminance.
The new TCO Certified Edge award for Outdoor Readability in Notebooks will highlight leading edge Notebooks that offer high luminance as well as superior eco-design and image performance.
Two times higher luminance for outdoor readability
A display’s performance in daylight depends primarily on the differences between the screen luminance and the reflected luminance from daylight, sunlight or similar illumination falling on the screen. To counteract the negative effect strong ambient light has on the readability of the display, notebook manufacturers have typically used anti-reflective and anti-glare treatments, but readability improves mainly by increasing the display luminance. Most Notebook displays today achieve a maximum luminance of around 200-250 cd/m² (candela per m²), which is adequate for use with indoor lighting. For outdoor use, it is recommended that a display used during overcast conditions should achieve a luminance of 500-800 cd/m², and in full sunlight 800-1000 cd/m². These higher measurements are considered bright enough for the varying illumination conditions of the outdoor environment, and may help users eliminate the need to shield or tilt the display from the reflectance in order to view the image.
High luminance – without compromises
A top performing Notebook display should also retain other critical image properties even at these high luminance settings. Features such as contrast, greyscale and colour levels should remain constant regardless of the luminance level. The TCO Certified Edge award for Outdoor Readability ensures this level of performance at the highest luminance setting. This award makes no compromises in our demands for high visual quality & low environmental impact whilst achieving outstanding outdoor readability performance.
Tags: Add new tag, computer display, ICT products, image quality, laptop, LCD display
The Iphone pointed out the direction and the rest of the industry is eager to follow. The touchscreens are coming! It’s not that new of course. Touchscreens have been around for some time in ATMs and similar applications. But now with the launch of Windows 7 the road is paved. Many of the major brands have already launched notebooks with touchscreens. I just can’t help but wonder what the glossy screen will look like after a few hours…
Posted by Martin Soderberg
Tags: climate conscience, climate smart, CO2 emissions, combine usability and environmental aspects, computer display, energy consumption, frustration, Green IT, hazardous substances, ICT products, image quality, standby, sustainable IT, usability
The buzz word within the ICT industry has during the last 18th month been Green IT and now it seems the trend it moving to include another buzz word; Sustainable IT. This trend is of course very positive.
In the discussions of Green IT so far there has been a lot talk about lower energy consumption. Low energy consumption is an important factor to reduce the CO2 emissions, but focusing only on lower energy consumption for a computer display can mean lower image quality.
It’s simple – a product with high performance and good usability has a longer life span and is less likely to enter the waste stream prematurely. This is another important environmental aspect that we unfortunately not see too much of in the discussion of Green IT or Sustainable IT.
No trade off between usability and environment
My point is that truly sustainable ICT products also must include the aspect of usability. A product that performs well and has low energy consumptions as well as low levels of hazardous substances is the best choice for the environment. Therefore there should not be any trade off between usability and environment aspects for ICT products!
What about products that don’t work if yoy try to be climate smart?
Last week I had a personal experience of usability vs. environmental aspects when I tried to be climate smart by switching off the printer at home. The printer is in standby mode 24 hours a day. Standby means less energy consumption but still it consumes energy, therefore I switched it off. The pleasure of a silent office and a good environmental conscience was on top when the printer was off. However there were no feelings of pleasure the next day when I was going to print a document. I had switched the printer on again, the control panel showed that the document was in the line for getting printed and that the printer was connected – but I did not get the document printed! This doubly frustrating – firstly for not being able to get my documents printed and sceondly, that I unnecessarily cause CO2 emissions because the printer doesn’t work if I switch it off properly.
Do you have similar experience of technology that makes it impossible to combine usability and environmental aspects? Let me know.
Make your comment here, or e-mail: birgitta.halvarsson@tco.se
Posted by Birgitta Halvarsson
