A few years ago no one had even heard of curved screens, their appearance was treated with skepticism, but today they are surprisingly popular among users. There is an opinion that their popularity is just based on the good work of marketers. And yet what is the attraction of monitors with a curve? Why do people buy them and even build multi-monitor systems based on them?
The curved monitor is different from many flat screens just because of its unusual design. In this case, such monitors have also received a different radius of curvature for a comfortable perception of the image at certain distances. Let’s find out who needs curved monitors and why they are becoming more and more popular.
What is the “trick” of curved monitors?
You’ve probably heard that curved displays allow you to immerse yourself more deeply in what’s happening on the screen – whether it’s playing a computer game, watching a movie, or working on a project. It creates the so-called “presence effect”. And with a good sound system, it is also audibly enhanced. There is a quite logical answer to the question “Why does this happen?”: the structure of the human eye dictates the arc-shaped design of the monitor.
Few people think about the fact that in everyday life, in addition to the main vision a person has lateral vision, which increases the viewing angle up to 130 degrees. This peripheral peculiarity allows us to perceive the surrounding reality better, and recently it has become a prerequisite for the appearance of curved screens.
When your eyes are directed to the curved monitor, the screen picture finds its continuation in the lateral vision zone instead of being interrupted by the frame of the flat monitor. Hence the effect of total immersion. And compared to flat monitors of the same diagonal, the viewing area on a curved monitor visually seems larger.
Moreover, if we continue comparing to flat monitors, we can’t help but notice that the contrast and color rendering isn’t worse with curved monitors at the edges of the matrix. This isn’t surprising since the distance from any point of the screen to the eye does not change. However, there are also nuances. If you sit in front of such a screen not strictly in the center, all the “magic” disappears.
What tasks are curved displays suitable for?
Although curved monitors are a pleasure not from the budget, especially when it comes to quality products, they are relevant for use both at home and in working conditions. An undeniable advantage of the curved monitor is that it is more convenient to organize your workspace to perform your tasks in the proportions of a wide screen than in a comparable configuration of two standard monitors. In addition, the use of curved displays in the office will allow people to go head to head with the work, significantly increasing attention.
For gamers and movie buffs who prefer to watch movies on their home PCs, the curved screen has become a real opportunity to immerse themselves in the virtual world without virtual reality glasses. UHD content reveals itself particularly well on such screens, without losing its clarity around the edges.
Those who have been to modern cinemas with curved screens, such as IMAX, understand what we are talking about now. A widescreen format (16:9 or 21:9) and an acceptable curvature for the human eye will give its owner a new experience.
How to determine the curvature of the monitor
The radius of curvature of the display is the most important parameter of curved monitors. It should be considered almost in the first place when choosing a particular model. If the monitor has a significant curvature, it doesn’t mean that you have to run straight to the store to buy it.
So, an extremely large radius of curvature can create the impression of a flat screen. But too small a radius can create additional distortions. Therefore it is recommended to take into account not only the curvature radius of the monitor but also the distance between the user and the image source. The size of the display is also important.
As for the radius of curvature, it is denoted as follows: xxxxR. And here are the most common curvature parameters:
- 1800R
- 4000R
- 2300R
- 3000R
The smaller the curvature radius, the more the screen is concave. The minimum distance from the monitor will provide the widest viewing angles as well as a greater viewing effect. If this radius has a value of 1800R, then the user should be in front of the screen no further than 1.8 m.
Does a curved monitor harm eyesight?
There is a perception that curved screens are more stressful on the eyes than flat panels. But this is absolutely not true. Moreover, exactly curved monitors are the safest for users’ eyesight. They very accurately reproduce the natural curve of the human field of view. And it creates comfortable conditions for the eyes, which will be much less tired from prolonged sitting at the computer.
Numerous studies confirm that eye pain and other visual problems occur up to 60% less frequently for those users who have a concave screen at home or work. Therefore, these monitors are much safer than standard LCD flat panel displays.
What are the pros and cons of curved monitors?
The undeniable advantages of concave monitors are as follows:
- Distortions are minimized.
- Aesthetically pleasing appearance.
- Full immersion with peripheral vision.
- Visually magnified image due to wide field of vision.
- Comfort and safety for the eyes.
There are certain disadvantages, of which there aren’t many:
- Not suitable for design and graphics professionals.
- High cost compared to flat models.
Today, customers are increasingly choosing curved monitors. Why is this happening? Firstly, these displays are beautiful and fashionable. Secondly, they are comfortable for eyesight. Third, they provide a fantastic effect of immersion while watching a spectacular blockbuster, or playing a game. There is no doubt that in the future the popularity of concave matrices will only increase.
