Dynamic visual display

A display is a device that creates a visual experience by using light. It modulates light according to the state of a connected control system, such as a digital state machine or an analog electronic circuit. Examples of displays include laptop screens, VR headset displays, and televisions. It can also be called a dynamic visual display or electronic visual display.

There are two major types of display: World fixed display and head-fixed display. A world fixed display exists in the world, like a laptop, a TV, or a smartphone. A head fixed display is mounted to the head, meaning when you turn your head it stays in front of your eyes. Head fixed displays include VR headsets and the google glass and vuzix devices.

The most important features for a display to be useful are field of view, contrast (both static and dynamic and in color), and focal depth.

In 2D displays used in traditional computer systems, resolution is more important than focal depth.

Common digital state machines include computers.

Display devices can be point based, ray based, or interference based. Point and ray based displays can be studied using ray optics. Interference based displays must be examined using wave optics. Point based devices are based on point sources. These include laptop screens, televisions, and smartphone screens.

Ray based devices are based on rays. These include heads up displays in cars.

Interference based devices are also called holographic devices. The display device modulates light that interferes with itself and forms a pattern at some distance. This is the rarest type of device.

Stereoscopic

Stereoscopic visual displays include VR headsets.