I'm a recently graduated EE trying to learn IT infrastructure stuff that wasn't even glancingly taught during undergrad, so apologies in advance if this question is silly. I'm concepting ideas for a project, part of which is displaying noninteractive content from a streaming server (text and video frames; think like a news channel) on largish screens that are far apart. I would like to accomplish this over ethernet since the infrastructure is already in place and it avoids having to rip things up to do video cable pulls. Is there such thing as a "network attached monitor" that is purpose built for this task, or would I have to attach thin clients a la Raspberry Pi to each display? Each monitor will be displaying the same thing simultaneously. Ultimately I would like to be able to point the screens to an IP address and display the webpage there.
I would greatly appreciate anything that points me in the right direction. Thanks!
12 Answers
Is there such thing as a "network attached monitor" that is purpose built for this task, or would I have to attach thin clients a la Raspberry Pi to each display?
From a technical point of view, there is no difference between these two versions. There has to be a network device in the concept that is able to decode some protocol and drive the display with the data received. This device will 99% be some kind of computing device, with some processor, memory, and graphics output peripheral. Whether you buy it separately, or built into your display, does not matter too much technically. It does matter pricewise (a separate product may or may not be cheaper), and flexibility-wise (a separate device can be easily replaced). If the device runs some standard OS, you'll have even more flexibility regarding the software to run there.
Both thin clients (see for example ) and TVs with built-in net client computers have been available for many-many years.
I believe this is the type of thing you're looking for. It allows you to connect a single box to a display or projector, and then extend or clone a display from any computer on the connected network.
