| Large LCD screens can be found on the train, at the | | | | important to reduce failures of the LCD screens. LCD |
| railway station and in railway control rooms. Recently, | | | | failures will cause inconvenience to passengers and |
| January 9, 2009, the Indian Western Railways | | | | may disrupt traffic flow at railway stations. |
| announced that they will install 4,000 large panel LCD | | | | Network Capability: Be sure that the LCD screen has |
| screens in 67 trains. The LCD screens will be installed | | | | RS-232 and LAN network connectivity. The network |
| by an OOH media company who will earn revenue | | | | connectivity allows for remote monitoring of the |
| from the advertisement on the screens and Western | | | | various LCD screens. Alarms can be set if an LCD |
| Railways will get a license fee of Rs 7 Crore (approx. | | | | screen is switched off or if it is not working. Power |
| US$1.75M) per year for the duration of the contract | | | | and other controls can be monitored remotely. For |
| (which is 5 years). These LCD screens will play a mix | | | | example, an energy saving feature can be activated |
| of entertainment, information and advertising for 18 | | | | so that when there is no signal, a power save mode is |
| hours a day in all trains. LCD screens can also be | | | | activated to reduce the brightness of the LCD |
| found in the railway stations. Trivandrum Central, the | | | | backlight. |
| biggest railway station in the state of Kerala in India, is | | | | Picture Quality: Most large LCDs are high definition. High |
| considered "swanky" by most visitors as a result LCD | | | | definition LCDs provide better picture resolution, better |
| flat screen televisions contributing to the overall look | | | | contrast ratio, high brightness, high colour reproduction |
| and feel. | | | | and fast response time resulting in better picture clarity. |
| However the LCD display needs for these railway | | | | High definition, high brightness and high contrast ratio |
| displays are usually similar. Below we outline key needs | | | | are important features for LCDs to have in railway |
| of LCD screens for railways: | | | | environment for easy picture viewing. Further, the non |
| Price: Price is an important criteria however many | | | | glare feature of LCDs allows for easy viewing in |
| OOH media companies, to their detriment, usually buy | | | | ambient light or where there is background light being |
| the cheapest LCD screen available for a given format | | | | reflected on the screen. Most new LCDs have 176° |
| size. Railways require rugged closed LCD displays. | | | | viewing angle, making it easy for viewing. Check the |
| Buying cheap LCD displays or LCD TVs which are not | | | | viewing specifications to make sure meets your quality |
| closed boxes, may result in premature failure of the | | | | requirements |
| screen. | | | | Slow-scan (legacy) Signal Capability: If the LCD |
| Ruggedness and 24x7 Operation Capability: LCD | | | | screens are being installed in the old chassis of the old |
| screens for railways need to be rugged. For this | | | | CRT television or in a mixed network of CRT |
| reason, it is important to have LCD informational | | | | televisions and LCD displays, the LCD screen needs to |
| displays vs. LCD TVs as LCD informational displays | | | | be slow-scan legacy signal compatible. New LCD |
| are fan-less closed box units that can offer protection | | | | screen features are continuously emerging. Check with |
| from dust and other contaminants. Further LCD | | | | the LCD screen manufacturer to learn about new |
| informational displays are made for 24x7 operation | | | | features. Read other articles and make the right |
| while LCD TVs are made for limited viewing. | | | | decision for your LCD purchase. |
| Ruggedness and life of the LCD screen is very | | | | |