Thankfully the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors of yesteryear are all but gone. Those CRT displays emitted a dose a radiation, and when you stared at them for a while those monitors weren’t very good for your eyes.

Fortunately, Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) have replaced the CRTs, and the security industry has developed its’ own type of security-grade LCD monitors to meet the specific needs of the surveillance industry.

These security-grade LCD displays offer many benefits including:

1. Easier on the Eyes

Unlike CRTs, LCDs don’t emit harsh amounts of light which is very important for protecting your eyesight. This is especially relevant when you need to be close to the monitor staring at it regularly to view important details in your video. Additionally, LCD monitors are also easier on the ears because they don’t have that faint yet piercing whine that a CRT display traditionally produced.

2. No Image Burn In

With security applications, the video monitor is typically showing a scene that seldom changes. Historically, this was a big problem for CRTs which, after just a year of use, the scene was permanently etched into the screen. Unlike CRTs, security-grade LCDs are engineered to handle the rigors of continuous use and won’t cause image burn in, even with scenes that rarely change.

3. Life Expectancy

The average lifespan of a CRT monitor was about 5 years with moderate use. Security-grade LCDs have a 60,000+ hour life expectancy. That means even if you left the LCD monitor on 24/7 that’s equal to a lifespan of about 7 years. In a more typical use, it’s plausible that LCDs can last for 10 plus years… no problem!

4. Lighter Weight

LCDs weigh about a third less than traditional CRTs. Consequently you’ll pay roughly about a third less for delivery. Because LCDs weigh less, they are also easier to mount to a wall. If you need to mount your LCD on a wall, be sure to get a wall mount bracket, power extension cable and a video extension cable.

5. Space-Saving

LCDs don’t just look better, they take up less space. A typical LCD is just a few inches in depth, whereas a traditional CRT was on average twelve to eighteen inches deep. LCDs take up much less space, which frees up your work space.

6. Better for the Environment

LCDs need very little power and a result the cost of operation is approximately a quarter of the cost of operation for a CRT. When comparing a 19 in LCD to a 19 in CRT, you can expect to roughly save around $20 to $30 per year in energy cost. Like CRTs, LCD monitors contain elements that are harmful to the environment. Thankfully due to their longer life, they will help reduce harmful waste in comparison with CRT monitors.

7. Multi-Role Capabilities

LCD monitors can be used in a multi-role scenario. Security LCD monitors will typically have both a composite video input (NTSC) and a VGA input which allows both a CCTV system and a PC to be displayed on one monitor. Some of the latest security type LCD monitors are also equipped with multiple composite inputs along with S-video and HDMI.

8. Built-in Audio Speakers

Audio is a very important dimension of security that can make all the difference in solving the crime and more importantly intervening before it happens. Catering to this need, security-grade LCDs typically come equipped with built-in speakers and line-level inputs that interface with DVRs.