Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1327492
January/February/March 2021 I 47 FIGURE 1: Determining the maximum viewing distance is crucial to guarantee the best possible viewer experience. Maximum Viewing Distance HOW DO I DETERMINE WHAT DISPLAY OR PROJECTION SCREEN SIZE IS NEEDED IN A ROOM? One common challenge is determining what size display or screen is required, and how many are needed to provide adequate viewing in a classroom or conference room. The display or projector screen size for any room can be easily determined by following these five steps: 1. Measure the distance from the display or screen to the farthest seat in the room. 2. Select the usage model and apply the "4/6/8" rule of thumb. 3. Calculate the minimum required display or screen height. 4. Determine the image aspect ratio and calculate screen width. 5. Calculate the required display or projector diagonal size to use for the specification. STEP 1: Measure the distance from the display or screen to the farthest seat in the room (Figure 1). • Critical – Viewing detailed presentations, spreadsheets or engineering drawings • Reading – Presentation slide content • General – Training videos or movies The more analysis and reading that attendees must do, the larger the screen needs to be. This lends itself to the 4/6/8 rule of thumb for determining minimum screen height. • Critical: Minimum screen height = Maximum viewing distance/4 • Reading: Minimum screen height = Maximum viewing distance/6 • General: Minimum screen height = Maximum viewing distance/8 STEP 2: Select the usage model. There are generally three categories of use: STEP 3: Calculate the minimum required display or screen height. EXAMPLE: Maximum measured viewing distance = 20 feet or 240 inches (6.09 m/609 cm) Usage model = Reading (apply rule of thumb and divide by 6) Minimum screen height = 240/6 = 40 inches (101.6 cm)