Video walls are another area where the desktop PC just doesn't fit the bill. Modern systems using flat panel technology need to make the most efficient use of screen real-estate and therefore generally dispense with any user interface. Those video walls which are made from multiple individual analogue monitors still require some form of matrix switch.

While digital video manufacturers frequently offer dedicated hardware decoders with analogue video outputs, the limiting factor is that they generally only support one video stream format - that of the manufacturer's own encoder. In a closed, end to end installation this isn't a problem, however in a modern open-platform, future-proof installation this can be a show stopper.

There is therefore a need to be able to specify control rooms or monitoring stations for IP video installations which are capable of supporting not only existing analogue and IP based video systems but which are also capable of supporting any systems which come along in the future. There should also be the possibility to utilize the full current and future range of display technologies.