What is On-Screen Display and How Does it Work?



What is On-Screen Display and How Does It Work?

On-screen display text is a rather complex but useful service in AV projects where single or multiple monitors display information to a given audience and where this graphics or live video display will have extra characters for identification. It can serve as guidance to the audience.

This fantastic built-in feature in AV devices can bring significant function into any application to ease the daily work for many video wall operators. We have all been in a situation when a very simple thing can be so meaningful.

 Sign up to our newsletter

What is on-screen display (OSD)? 

On-screen display text, usually called as OSD, is commonly known as a text displaying useful information over a screen, monitor or TV, to show relevant and useful information to its viewers. It is commonly known as a menu on a variety of electronic devices and serves options to adjust the display or to select viewing options.

Generally, you might have seen this on your TV, when it displays the channel, the volume or even time. You might recognize this phenomenon by playing video games. Many times, this feature offers adjustments or setting information to its operator.

on-screen display example

When it comes to pro audio-visual devices, this feature is used to define the input and output sources and possibly provide actual settings and extra information of the content itself. Professional implementations support text over the live background so the audience or the operators can see real time moving video in the background while watching static text in the foreground. The real time display of video content does not disturb the static characters.

This fantastic On-screen display text feature enriches the set of features in many of DEXON’s AV devices. DEXON’s DIVIP video processors, DIMAX-Pro presentation matrices and DXN5000 video wall controllers have built-in on-screen display support to show for example the input and output number, making it easier to identify screens on your video wall. To find out more about our AV solutions, go to DEXON's product page.

What useful functions does OSD have?

The purpose of using OSD, as built-in information text, is to ease the daily work of operators in mission critical control rooms. This feature allows them to easily identify input sources as well as output settings and therefore can receive extra warnings about the traffic or a certain process they supervise. Even alerts can be initiated and broadcasted. In some simple AV projects, the On-screen display contains extra information or warning for the audience.

On-Screen Display Video Wall Controller

The main functions of OSD text over the video content:

  • identify the video input information displayed
  • give resolution and input signal characteristics
  • identify output screens and parameters
  • broadcast extra information about operation
  • display situation dependent warnings and instructions
  • identify alarm situations and broadcast to audience

The understanding of identification data broadcasted by the OSD seems rather easy when you have one screen in a small board room. But when it comes to large video walls this function can be very helpful especially if one can alter multiple settings of the given OSD function.

 Sign up to our newsletter

T-mobile Polska OSD

How do you activate OSD & what settings are available? 

The rendering of OSD text over the video content can be used on all of DEXON Systems’ AV solutions. Operators can use special user interface for the setup and initialization of OSD service. Complex setup possibilities are available for the administrator

  • define text content
  • define characters’ font, size, colors
  • define number of lines displayed
  • define pixel position over the video window
  • define background need and colour
  • define transparent display over the background
  • define automatic display of extra conditions
  • define timing to display OSD content permanently or for a certain time period after signal switch
  • quick turn-on and turn-off possibility of displaying the OSD

On-Screen Display User Interface

Let’s highlight some unique features

in DEXON’s product families regarding on-screen display

In the DIMAX family users may define 2 lines for OSD in any coordinates over the output screen whereas in the DIVIP family this is possible over each output video window. The DXN5000 video wall controller family enables to display unlimited number of OSD texts in any position over the overlay video windows.

FAQ

What OSD means?

On-screen display text, usually called as OSD, is commonly known as a text displaying useful information over a screen, monitor or TV, to show relevant and useful information to its viewer.

What are the main OSD features?

Users may customize the OSD text content, colour, size, position, display time and display attributes in order to provide precise information. As customization possibilities are limitless – these features provide a unique visual effect.

How can you activate OSD?

Easy-to-use graphics user interface is available for setup and control of the OSD visualization. Main attributes as text content, font type, font size, position, background define the visualization and even control.

Why are these OSD features useful? 

This outstanding feature provides you yet another customization possibility that will make your installation stand out among others! Mostly, this function mainly serves the operators who use the video wall on daily basis. As there are multiple setting options, everyone can easily change the OSD feature according to their need, regardless of the AV application area.

 Sign up to our newsletter

On-screen display example Video wall controller

Newsletter Signup

Contact

DEXON Systems

+36 23 422 804
+36 23 445 199




Latest Blog