Evolution of monitors/screens

The days of the good old CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)

The beige and bulky monitors which is most of us cannot remember now with the new inventions every month mostly, but we can remember is the progression over time since over time since the first displays were developed over a century ago

Dominating the market for many years, CRT monitors were ground-breaking for their time. Up until the early 2000s, the most commonly used displays across offices and private homes were CRT displays.

A new era

LCD also became so popular in the early millennium but at first it was so expensive to the point it gave CRT displays an extended lifetime, from layers of filters, glass and liquid crystal, LCD displays did not require the same bulky cathode ray tubes anymore to function, enabling manufacturers to slim down monitors to suit the growing market needs.

Display position adjustments became more easily available, allowing users to tilt the monitor. And with the disappearance of CRTs, health fears around radiation were disappeared with them.

Let the games begin

The rise of esports and gaming, has forced monitors to evolve with the times. Users nowadays expect displays that not only provide shorter response times and higher refresh rates, but also come with designs for an immersive gaming experience. Throughout the market, curved screens – which surprisingly debuted in the TV sector in 1952 – have become popular in gaming communities. With its 21:9 format, 2000 mm curvature, 4 ms response time, 200 Hz refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync support, the AOC AGON AG352QCX exemplifies this development. Ergonomic adjustment options have gone a long way as well. The AG352QCX for example lets gamers maintain a healthy posture while playing, thanks to its stand’s height, tilt, and swivel adjustment options.

Wider, thinner, faster

The monitors of today are wider, thinner and faster than ever before. As customer needs and wishes become more specific, monitor specs will adapt accordingly. Be it a style-conscious office user, competitive gamer, professional graphic designer or casual home user, niche markets have emerged and thus designs have evolved. Contemporary monitors have to appeal visually and functionally to different customer groups, who often have completely different needs and wishes. While graphic designers look for superior image quality and ergonomic functions, modern professionals appreciate functional monitors that work effectively while looking the part.

As a result, innovative monitor designs such as the AOC PDS241 and the PDS271, conceptualised by the famous Studio F. A. Porsche, have been created. Their unique modular build separating the I/O connections from the display allows for an extremely slim 5.2 mm profile, which is thinner than most recent smartphones. By running the power and display cable through the twisted asymmetrical stand, it offers a particularly clean and sleek look. Even in office settings, business monitors shouldn’t look bulky and boring anymore. That is why AOC for example is updating their Pro Line with “3-sided frameless” designs as well: The 90 series monitors let users focus entirely on the screen content and make multi-monitor setups with several displays next to each other much more seamless.