Multi-monitor, also known as Multi-display, Multi-head and Dual-Monitor are synonymous terms referring to the use of multiple physical display devices such as monitors, televisions and projectors in order to increase the area available for computer programs running on a single computer system. Microsoft describes this setup as "one of the best ways to improve your productivity". Randy Pausch recommended multiple monitors for improving personal productivity in his Time Management lecture. History Contemporary versions of Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and X Window System all support multiple monitors. Dual monitor support once depended on specialized proprietary video drivers supplied with few video cards, along with a multi-display-supporting GUI system. Support for multiple monitor configurations was added as a standard feature in Microsoft Windows in Windows 98. It has been a standard feature in all versions of Apple's Mac OS X (introduced in March 2001), and was a standard feature of the first color Macintosh II introduced in 1987. By adding up to two additional video cards, the Mac supported up to three monitors, although operating system support for multiple monitors wasn't introduced in Windows until the mid 1990s. The all-in-one Mac SE/30 featured a small black & white screen, but could drive an external color monitor. Commercial systems Major players in the visual computing technologies currently include ATI Technologies (now a division of AMD), which supplies graphics hardware and supports its function via ATI's Hydravision Multi-Monitor Management Software; NVIDIA, also a hardware supplier, which includes software support under the moniker of nView Multi-Display Technology; and Matrox, a third hardware supplier providing both multi-display add-in boards and a series of external multi-display upgrade units known as DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go. The technology provided by these companies was once limited to the professional graphics market, but has gradually become more widespread and affordable in the consumer market. The latest version of Microsoft Windows supports up to 64 monitors. Source: Wikipedia |