Why work on a deficient display? Lenovo’s Stefan Engel explains everything engineers need to know to futureproof their monitors
Computer monitors may seem simple, but there’s a lot that goes on behind the screens. To get the most out of their monitors, engineers need to understand what to look for and why.
Engineering.com spoke with Stefan Engel, Vice President and General Manager of Visuals for Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group, to learn what makes for the best engineering display—and what’s in store for the future of visual computing.
The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Engineering.com: What do engineers need (and perhaps not know they need) in a display?
Stefan Engel: Considering many of the projects an engineer works on involve heavy graphics, screen specifications like resolution, color accuracy, and sometimes even response time or brightness are incredibly important. Engineers need to be confident that the models, images, and renderings they are viewing are as precise as they can be. Therefore, monitors with advanced display technology, like mini-LED, that are professionally calibrated during manufacture to offer broad color depth coverage and true-to-life color experiences, as well as those with higher resolutions and very clear picture quality would be beneficial to engineers of all disciplines.
In addition to screen specifications, productivity is an important factor that engineers should consider when selecting a display. To improve efficiency and output, a common practice in engineering is the use of multiple screens to facilitate multitasking, but the frame of each monitor creates what can be a distracting gap between screens. What many engineers may not realize is that they can get the multi-screen benefit from a single monitor via built-in, productivity-driving features. For example, an ultra-wide docking monitor like Lenovo’s ThinkVision P49w-30 offers the screen real estate for engineers to use both sides of their screen as two distinct workspaces so they can get more done on a single display. This can be further enhanced with the monitor’s True Split feature that serves as a hardware-based partition that essentially splits the one monitor into two, allowing settings and aspect ratios to be independently adjusted as needed on a single screen more conveniently. Using this PiP (Picture in Picture) and PbP (Picture by Picture) functionality, users can also view both sources simultaneously in two separate windows side-by-side.
Monitors that offer a single-cable USB-C docking solution are also recommended for an easy laptop connection. For engineers who use high-performance workstations, the docking feature should ideally offer a 140-watt power delivery capability so that it’s capable of supporting the PC’s power requirements. When an even more powerful computer source is needed for data heavy projects, like a workstation desktop, monitors like the ThinkVision P49w-30 can connect to both PC sources and with its eKVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) feature, allow users to quickly switch back and forth between the laptop and desktop, controlling both via a single mouse and keyboard without having to switch out cables.
How is display technology evolving, particularly for the design and manufacturing industry?
As hybrid working models are embraced, monitor technology is trending to deliver solutions that are becoming more elegant, easier to use, and better connected. As such, displays with more premium features, purposeful capabilities and thoughtful design are increasingly being considered and integrated in order to make life easier and address various user scenarios.
Those in the design industry would likely be most interested in the improvements made in color and peak brightness specifications as users need to be confident that the color they see on the screen is what will result when physically produced. High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, for example, has evolved over the years to offer broader color ranges, higher peak brightness and wider contrast spectrums, with ratings of HDR 1000+ being the benchmark for most use cases. Backlighting technology is another transformative area. OLED displays generally have a limited lifespan because of the color degradation that can occur over long periods of use. Therefore, mini/micro-LED monitors that are backlit by thousands of miniature LEDs will eventually replace LED/IPS displays as the standard, particularly in professional environments like the design industry, because of their sharp visuals performance, true-to-life color, and deeper dark/light contrast capabilities.
Refresh rates that offer a more fluid display experience are another evolving specification that would be of interest to the design industry with refresh rates now available in excess of 300Hz, a far cry from the 60Hz baseline that was established more than a decade ago. Though most engineering tasks won’t require such a high refresh rate, I see 100Hz becoming a standard for professional grade monitors within the next two years. Also, in line with our shift to hybrid living, new form factors and accessories are available to provide better conferencing infrastructures. For example, VoIP monitors that incorporate modular accessories like webcams and microphones can enhance the virtual meeting experience with optimized audio and visuals.
Specific to the manufacturing industry, the monitors of today offer purposeful designs and features that can address the specific pain points of these end users. For example, end users in production areas often wear gloves while working, so monitors that offer capacitive touch capabilities can enhance their efficiency. Also, displays with smart power functions that dynamically adjust the energy consumption to match the usage not only help the environment but also are more cost effective for the organization.
What are the most compelling reasons for engineers to upgrade from an older display?
Monitors are the centerpiece of the PC experience, and to support a display-centric ecosystem, they too have had to evolve alongside desktops, laptops, and other devices to ensure not only compatibility, but efficiency, and an elevated user experience. For example, laptops have been updated over the years to provide new ports like USB-C, and increasingly Thunderbolt 4, that offer faster connectivity and higher resolution transmission via a single cable. As such, monitors must offer a wide range of ports, including the latest offerings, so that users can easily connect to the various devices they use daily. In the event that a user would like to connect several monitors for a multi-screen experience, or daisy chain them, these added port options make it easy to do so while also reducing cable clutter for a cleaner workspace.
Engineers can also benefit from the productivity-driving features that have only become available in the last few years, like the True Split and eKVM functions I mentioned earlier, or new technologies like Mini LED with HDR 1000+ that offer a more advanced color performance that can help to improve the quality of their work.
To help reduce the impact that prolonged screen time can have on users, there’s been a greater focus on adding features that help to address eye health and wellness. In addition to ergonomic stands that support better posture and help to reduce eye fatigue, Lenovo offers many monitors that incorporate natural low blue light technology to reduce harmful blue light emissions without compromising color performance. Many of our devices meet the eye health safety standards set by organizations like Eyesafe and TUV Rheinland. In fact, in August 2022, Eyesafe released its latest Eyesafe Certified 2.0 standard for measuring blue light emissions and color accuracy, and we were proud to be the first technology provider to offer PC monitors that meet the specification. Technology updates like these may serve as motivation for engineers to consistently upgrade their monitors.
What are the most important specs to consider in an engineering display?
Many of the features I’ve mentioned would be important specs for an engineer to consider in a monitor. From color performance, resolution and power delivery, to the inclusion of an eKVM functionality and multiple port options, each can offer engineers specific benefits that can help them be more effective and efficient at work. I’d also add energy consumption to this list. Many monitors offer such features that allow users to directly control the amount of energy the monitor is using via power-saving modes that can be turned on and off in the settings menu to lower the brightness when needed. Human detection sensors can automatically dim the screen when the user steps away and light sensors can adjust screen brightness to match the amount of ambient light detected. However, users may also want to look at monitors that offer low halogen power supply in the power board, scaler board and signal cables for additional energy savings.
Considering the amount of time people are spending in front of their computer screens, those that offer natural low blue light technology and adjustable stands for a more comfortable viewing experience can better support eye health and wellness over time. If users are working remotely or following a hybrid work model, audio and visual considerations are also important for a more enhanced virtual meeting experience with a higher quality webcam and more dynamic speakers.
Are novel displays like foldables and rollables worth an engineer’s attention yet?
There is certainly opportunity for both to provide future benefits for engineers, but where I see more immediate potential—not just for engineers, but for designers, content creators, and even those who frequent the metaverse—is in 3D monitors. Glasses-free 3D displays offer an immersive and instant three-dimensional experience that can improve efficiency in work scenarios and add more excitement to entertainment. Engineers can present product design models more realistically than possible in a two-dimensional rendering, fostering more productive discussions and efficient work sessions. There are some early concepts that are still being refined that are currently on the market, but over the next 12-18 months I foresee transformation occurring in the 3D monitor space. More high-performance models that meet the quality and visual expectations we’ve grown accustomed to with traditional monitors will be introduced, enabling wider professional use cases.
Related: 3D Screens Are Back, And They’re Going Pro
What lies in store for the future of visual computing?
Just as digital transformation has reshaped the entire technology industry, the availability of emerging technologies will continue to do the same for the visual computing market. AI technology is already widely in use, but the introduction of more smart sensors that enable the monitor to better understand the environment in which it’s being used, as well as user behaviors, will usher in new proficiencies. From cross-device collaboration to audio and visual capabilities, as monitors become smarter, they will be better positioned to automatically adjust to meet the need and serve as a total solution across multiple scenarios.
The user experience will also continue to be shaped by the sheer number of variations in how people can outfit their monitors. Users will be able to find a display that’s seemingly custom-built for their specific needs, with a plethora of options available across each feature. They will not only be able to select from the monitors that offer a camera or not, but can opt for a specific webcam that’s most compatible with their chosen operating system, without having to compromise on other features.
Finally, the increased integration of smartphones will also enhance the display-centric ecosystem. Lenovo recently announced the introduction of its ThinkPhone by Motorola that is designed to offer a new level of compatibility between Think-branded devices, monitors included. Monitors will serve as a tool for a more efficient connected phone / laptop experience, allowing files and documents to be seamlessly passed between the ThinkPhone and the PC with the monitor serving as a conduit.
