What’s the right video resolution needed for Microsoft Teams Rooms?
For static content? For video?
The whole 4K (or UHD, to be accurate) thing has been overplayed in pro AV displays. Usually there's at least one part of the signal chain, if not the source itself, that's not 4K UHD, rendering the display's full resolution unused.
Static content like Excel and PowerPoint are fine at HD and video camera feed is often poor - so current systems can be perfectly adequate at HD or WUXGA.
Human visual acuity for moving items is cumulative. As an object moves on a video screen, our visual processing system adds detail. If you think how it's so noticeable when high frame rate video is used, losing otherwise filmic viewing properties, this gives a clue to the speed and complexity of what's going on.
Formula 1 driving simulators need at least 120Hz refresh rates as the drivers are effectively running like those little mammals who need to eat their own body weight each day, their metabolisms running at 11 (and if you haven’t seen Spinal Tap, you need to put that one right!).
To futureproof Teams Room and hybrid systems, and working on the safe bet that quality of video feeds will improve, then 4K UHD will nevertheless be necessary.
However, if the display is too small and the content cannot be seen by all users, then the resolution becomes almost irrelevant.
Microsoft Front Row displays for 5 or 6 people need to be at or near 150” 21:9.
For regular MTRs, rooms that are from 6m deep are firmly in 100” + display size category. This means projection - but projection done properly, namely using the correct ALR (Ambient Light Rejection) projection surface technology.
Projection is a futureproof option. Like the axe that lasts decades, with the benefit of two replacement handles and three new heads, as projection technology moves to native 4K, 8K etc, they can be swapped in easily. If the room configuration, including screen size and type are good enough, these systems can last for as many years as needed.
Posted: 31st March 2023