Bringing The UHD/4K Technology Hype From In-Home To Retail Market

By Keith Yanke, NEC Display Solutions

Discussion about Ultra High-Definition (UHD) displays and 4K (cinema-grade 4Kx2K chip set) projectors filled the conference room floor at InfoComm14 this year. Manufacturers and retailers alike wanted to know how UHD/4K technologies could improve sales and take their business to the next level.

On the display front, in particular, manufacturers are racing to deliver this high resolution to excited customers. Several manufacturers are shipping UHD displays in both desktop and large-screen sizes. 4K projector excitement is growing, too, especially in digital cinema. And while the most hype has been focused on pushing UHD/4K into homes, there are actually many applications for these technologies in the commercial market.

Early adopters of UHD display technology include animation, broadcast, CAD/CAM, control rooms, engineering, government, healthcare, military and photography. On the 4K projector side, flight simulation, rental and staging for corporate events, and large auditoriums appear to have the first-mover advantage. Most of these applications will be able to use multiple display technologies to accomplish the move to UHD/4K.

Beyond the early adopters, retail should be the next set of adopters. Designer brands are always looking for the latest and greatest technologies to make them stand out in the retail space. Using UHD/4K resolutions allows them to show the latest fashions with more detail and clarity than they ever have previously. Screen sizes around 100 inches combined with high resolutions provide lifelike displays that can captivate retail audience and boost sales.

Whatever the venue, consider the following factors before deploying UHD or 4K resolutions.

Please log in or register below to read the full article.