Frequently Asked Questions

Panoram Technologies has developed this list of answers to frequently asked questions in order to assist with the Panoram Desktop Visualization displays.

Q. What kind of computer do I need to use a Panoram desktop display?
A. Most computer platforms and standard operating systems can be configured for a Panoram PV Series display. Some hardware platforms and models require adapters or interfaces. You can plug more than one computer into the PV Series display. For example, the PV230 DSK includes DVI-D, VGA style HD 15 connectors, S-video and Composite Video (RCA connectors).

Q. What is the maximum resolution of a PV Series display?
A. The Panoram PV230 DSK has a native resolution of 3072x768 resolution (2.63 million pixels).

The Panoram PV720 FRM has a native resolution of 4800 X 1200 (5.76 million pixels) but with the Matrox TripleHead2Go, the resolution is currently limited to 3840 X 1024 (3.93 million pixels). Since the unit has both analog and digital inputs, you would use the analog with the GXM unit and the digital inputs with a full resolution source or sources.

Q. Do I have to run each panel at the maximum or the same resolution?
A. You can use the graphics card setup utility to run various screen segments at various resolutions. The Panoram PV Series features an auto setup function that makes setup for various frequencies easy for the user. Most standard resolutions up to the maximum native resolution for the display is supported.

Q. What is the maximum refresh rate?
A. It is recommended to run the display between 60-75 Hz for most resolutions.

Q. Does my computer need a special graphics card to make it work with a Panoram desktop display?
A. There are several solutions for taking full advantage of the PV Display's real estate. The best is the new Matrox Graphics eXpansion Module TrippleHead2Go (available from Panoram). With one channel of your graphics card set to 3072 X 768, the Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM) will slice and dice the output and place it across all three panels of the PV display. It's a great PLUG-AND-PLAY solution at a great price ($299.00)

Click here for a complete list of compatible graphics cards that work with the TripleHead2Go.

Q. Is this GXM compatible with NVIDIA's SLI technology?
A. The GXM solution is ideal for SLI. Imagine harnessing the power of QUAD SLI in dual PCIe slots and spreading that graphics performance over a 3840 X 1024 work (or play) space with a PV720 FRM. This provides a totally new paradigm of performance, resolution and real-estate for desktop computing.

Q. Are there multi-channel graphics solutions as well?
A. Yes. If you are up to a little system integration (or want to pay us to do it), there are several choices of multi-channel graphics cards including the Colorgraphics Xentara Series and the Matrox Parhelia Series. Then there are multi-slot PCIe mother-boards which will accept dual graphics - many of which have dual output as well.

Q. Will the PV display work for gaming?
A. Absolutely. This is a very exciting new arena with games that genuinely scale, not just stretch out and distort. With the GXM interface the display looks like a single extremely wide channel to the application/game - there are a lot of games that will scale perfectly.

Q. Which games work?
A. Most modern MMORPGs run flawlessly, including World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, and the new Dungeons and Dragons. A broad list of top titles with native support includes (in alpha order):

Age of Empires 3, Black & White 2, Call of Duty, Doom 3, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, F.E.A.R, Flight Simulator 2004, Freedom Force, GTR Racing, Half-Life 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Midnight Club 2, Moto GP 2, Motocross Madness 2, Nascar Racing, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season, Neverwinter Nights, Quake IV, The Sims 2, Trackmania Nations, Trainz, Unreal Tournament 2004, and X-Plane.

Matrox maintains a list of games that support their GXM.

In addition, the Widescreen Gaming Forum is dedicated to finding solutions to getting games to work in widescreen (and panoramic/surround). They maintain a list of games (along with any needed solutions) at www.widescreengamingforum.com/masterlist.php.

Q. How was Panoram able to make a display with such small separation between panels?
A. The exact methods differ for each model. The Panoram design engineers' goal is to integrate the panels to be as close as possible. On the PV230 DSK it is less than 11mm.

Panoram also produces large-scale projection displays that are totally seamless. In these applications we use projectors and overlap a part of the image. We then use a special edge blending technology called Video Panoram® to seamlessly integrate the image.

Because the panel displays are not projected, the closest we can get the image is to have the physical edge of the LCD panel touch the adjacent one. LCD panels have non-active pixels on the edge of the panel so that when our engineers configure the panels, we still have an area where there are no active pixels. This is the separation you see on the Panoram PV Series displays.

Our goal is one continuous seamless surface, but we are several years away from this. Meanwhile, the separation has been reduced to such an extent that even applications such as spread sheets work across the break, which is called a "mullion".

There are a few "zero gap" technologies out there based on putting a lens in front of the panel. By having this lens expand the image a bit, it expands to fill the gap. Panoram has reviewed and considered licensing some of these technologies, but to date, the cost increase vs. test user results have not compelled us to do this.

Q. What is the advantage of the PV display compared to 3 separate LCD/TFT panels which are less in price?
A. A. To answer this very important question, we have prepared a comprehensive flash based AVstream™ presentation. We invite you to view it by clicking HERE.

Q. Will all software be able to operate over the three screens?
A. Nearly every application will be able to take full advantage of the additional real estate. Exceptions include some game applications that have been hard coded to run at specific sizes and resolutions. We have received a number of inquiries and are discussing this issue with a number of game providers.

Q. Can I watch a DVD movie or video on the entire display?
A. Each panel of Panoram's desktop display can take a video signal from a DVD or VCR player. But, since video is a fixed resolution, DVD movies would not spread across all three panels. For full wide video or DVD presentations, special content would have to be created and run from three synchronized DVD players or from a multi-channel video server. This applies to entertainment, museum and kiosk applications but is not practical for the standard user.

Q. Does a Panoram PV Series display come with the drivers to drive it?
A. The Panoram PV Series displays are essentially "plug and play". The drivers to configure a wide-screen multi channel output will be supplied with the multi-channel graphics cards. If the source is a standard single channel source there are no special drivers required. The PV series features an auto setup function that allows you to quickly and automatically adjust the display parameters to various input frequency.

Q. Do LCD screens produce true accurate colors?
A. Each display is color matched at the factory. Panoram recommends the display for most applications such as: simulation, design work, CAD, desktop publishing, 2D and 3D work, off-line video editing etc... but is not recommend for final color correction of art or video post production. This is inherent in all LCD panels.

Q. Do LCD screens produce true black?
A. LCD technology cannot produce a true black. The panel, even though it appears black, will still be illuminated or "glowing" in a completely dark environment. This is inherent in all LCD panels.

Q. Why did Panoram create the desktop display with an array of three panels set at angles?
A. Considerable research went into perfecting the ergonomics of the Panoram desktop product line. It starts with Panoram's heritage of creating large scale, curve screen, projection displays. We learned a great deal from our users work in these mega environments.

First of all - THREE DISPLAYS instead of TWO. We are bi-lateral creatures with front set eyes. We need a point of focus. This point of focus is formed by an approximately 40º cone in front of us, which is called the Fovea. This view is covered by the center screen.

We, as humans, also have peripheral vision. This is an extremely important part of our cognitive ability. The peripheral extends out from our fovea to encompass a 70º cone.

Once you exceed the Peripheral, you now have your immersive field. This requires you to rotate your head to see it.

We learned from our users of large projected screens that as they rotated their heads to move their fovea or "focus" to another part of the screen, they got fatigued with flat screens. It makes sense when you think about it. As you look from one end of a large display to the other, the point of focus is far away at first. When you look straight ahead it is closest and then recedes as you scan to the other end. By curving the screen around the user, the focal distance is maintained and user fatigue is greatly diminished. The angles of the PV Series are designed to remain equidistant from the users viewing position as they scan from one end to the other.

Q. Why don't we get visual fatigue at the movies?
A. Most cinema experiences are not immersive. The ideal seat in a movie is when you fill your peripheral vision (about a 70º cone from your seat).