Why Modern Monitors and TVs Are Wider Horizontally Than Vertically

Modern monitors and TVs are designed to be wider horizontally than vertically. This design choice is driven by a combination of practical, aesthetic, and technological factors that enhance the viewing experience and align with how people consume media today.

Aspect Ratios

The most common aspect ratio for modern displays is 16:9, which is well-suited for movies, TV shows, and gaming. This widescreen format is an ideal match for content that is often produced in similar wide formats. A wider screen provides a more immersive viewing experience, making it perfect for both individual and group viewing scenarios.

Content Consumption

Much of the video content available today is created for widescreen formats. Manufacturers design screens that match these aspect ratios to ensure that viewers can enjoy the content as intended without the need for letterboxing (black bars on the sides). This consistency between content creation and display enhancement greatly enhances the viewing experience.

Viewing Comfort

A wider horizontal display allows viewers to take in more of the scene at a glance, which can be more comfortable for viewing than a taller display. This is particularly beneficial for group viewing, as it enables multiple people to see the screen from different angles with ease. The improved visual field can also make the content more engaging and less jarring.

Design Trends

The modern aesthetic favors slim, wide designs that fit well into contemporary decor. Widescreen displays also tend to look more elegant and can be easier to mount on walls or fit into entertainment centers. This trend towards sleek, wide designs is driven by the desire to create a more visually appealing and functional living space.

Gaming

Gaming is another key area where wider screens offer significant benefits. With the rise of gaming, wider screens enhance the gaming experience by providing a broader field of view. This can improve immersion and gameplay, allowing players to see more of the action at once and making the gaming experience more immersive. The improved perspective and visual span can significantly affect game dynamics and player strategy.

Historical Evolution of Widescreen

People have a wide angle of vision, so it makes sense to take advantage of this by using wide screens in television. The original screen ratio for broadcasts was 4:3 (1.33:1) until the late 2000s when 16:9 (1.78:1) TV displays became widespread.

The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight and Early Widescreen Usage

The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight in 1897 was not only the longest film at 100 minutes but also the first widescreen film, shot on 63 mm Eastman stock with 5 perforations per frame. This early experiment in widescreen filmmaking was a significant milestone in the history of cinema. In the late 1920s, widescreen was used in some short films and newsreels, including Abel Gance's film Napoleon (1927), which featured a final widescreen sequence in a process Gance called Polyvision. Additionally, Claude Autant-Lara released Pour construire un feu (To Build a Fire) in the early Henri Chrétien widescreen process, which was later adapted by Twentieth Century-Fox for CinemaScope in 1952.

Modern 21:9 Aspect Ratio

21:9 (2.33:1) is the approximate screen aspect ratio of the true value 64:27 (2.370:1), which is designed to show films recorded in CinemaScope or the modern anamorphic format of 2.39:1. The design of this screen ratio ensures the absence of black bars at the top and bottom of the screen when viewing content in this format and a constant display height when displaying other content with a lesser aspect ratio.

Trends and Usage

Many brands are already following the trend set by Philips in launching the Ultra Wide cinema 21:9 screen size. This wide format is not just used for entertainment; it is also used for various tasks, including video editing, CAD work, and graphic design. The wide display allows for better visualization and less screen distortion, making it ideal for professionals who need to see more content at once.

In conclusion, the trend towards wider screens is driven by a combination of practical, aesthetic, and technological factors that align with how people consume media today. The 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratios have become the norm, enhancing the viewing experience and adapting to the way content is created and consumed.