Control rooms Displays

Control Room Displays: Choosing the Right Technology for Mission-Critical Environments

Yusuf Shaik

When it comes to building a reliable control room, the display wall is the heart of the operation. Whether it’s for security monitoring, energy management, or corporate command centres, operators rely on displays to provide continuous visibility of critical information. The choice of display technology can have a major impact on performance, uptime, and cost of ownership.

At Control Room and AV Solutions, we design and deliver systems that meet the unique needs of 24/7 operations. Below, we explain the two main types of control room displays, why professional-grade LCDs are different from consumer TVs, and how narrow-bezel technology improves visibility.

Rear-Projection Cubes (RPCs)

Rear-projection cubes were once the standard in control rooms. Each cube contains its own projection system and screen, stacked together to form a seamless wall.

Advantages:

  • Very small bezels between screens (virtually seamless)
  • Long operational lifespan with proper maintenance
  • Good image uniformity
  • Highly scalable – can be built up to virtually any size
  • Longer lifespan (>11 years on Barco ODL)

Limitations:

  • Require greater depth behind the wall for installation
  • Lower brightness compared to some LCD panels
  • Some maintenance costs over long term usage

Diagram 1: LCD panels vs Rear Projection

LCD Video Walls

LCD panels have now become the dominant technology in modern control rooms. They provide high brightness, slim form factors, and flexibility in design, from small 2×2 setups to massive multi-row video walls.

Advantages:

  • High brightness and sharp image quality
  • Slim depth, easier to mount on walls
  • Scalable in size and shape
  • Typically lower cost of ownership compared to RPCs

Limitations:

  • Visible bezels between panels (though narrow-bezel designs reduce this)
  • Potential for image retention if not properly managed

Diagram 2: LCD Video Wall Layout

Why Control Room LCDs Cost More Than Consumer TVs

At first glance, control room LCDs may look similar to consumer flat-screen TVs. However, professional-grade LCDs are engineered for mission-critical environments where downtime is not an option.

Key Differences:

  • 24/7 Rated – Designed for continuous operation without overheating
  • Heat Management – Built-in cooling and robust electronics extend lifespan
  • Panel Uniformity – Ensures colour and brightness consistency across all screens in a wall
  • Narrow Bezel Designs – Reduce the visible lines between panels for a seamless view
  • Extended Warranties & Support – Enterprise-grade service and replacement options

Consumer TVs, by contrast, are not intended for 24/7 operation. Using them in control rooms often leads to overheating, early failure, and image inconsistencies.

Diagram 3: Consumer TV vs 24/7-rated Control Room LCD

Narrow-Bezel and Barco UniSee Technology

One of the biggest breakthroughs in control room displays has been the move toward narrow-bezel LCD panels. With bezels as thin as a few millimetres, the gaps between screens are far less noticeable, improving operator focus and reducing distraction.

Barco’s UniSee platform takes this further by eliminating traditional bezels altogether, offering a near-seamless viewing experience. The panels mount on a precision-engineered structure, automatically aligning themselves for perfect uniformity.

This makes UniSee a preferred choice for high-end control rooms where image continuity is critical.

Diagram 4: Standard Bezel vs Narrow Bezel vs Barco UniSee Comparison

Conclusion

Choosing the right display technology is one of the most important decisions in designing a control room. Rear-projection cubes still serve certain use cases, but LCD video walls, especially narrow-bezel and UniSee platforms, are now the gold standard for most applications.

At Control Room and AV Solutions, we are certified Barco partners and experts in control room design. Whether you need a small-scale installation or a mission-critical national control centre, we’ll ensure your display wall is reliable, scalable, and built for the future.

👉 Contact us today to discuss your next project.