Electronic displays for information technology

The principal channel of interactive communication from a computer to a per son is an electronic display. The amount of information shown and the way i n which it can be exhibited depend on successfully matching the capabilitie s of the display to the human visual system. Making this channel as wide, a s fast, and as effective as possible has been the goal of electronic displa y development for the last fifty years. The cathode ray tube (CRT), which h as been the dominant display device used in offices and homes, is the displ ay device on which the personal computer and the graphical user interface w ere developed. Today, the capabilities of information technology are brough t to new environments by new display technologies. Active-matrix liquid cry stal displays (AMLCDs) have freed the personal computer from the desktop, p rojection displays bring the power of information technology into meetings, small liquid crystal displays have allowed the development of hand-held co mputers, and head-mounted displays are bringing wearable computer technolog y onto the factory and warehouse floor.