More than one research project has shown that a multi-display environment means greater productivity.  Reseacrh from the University of Utah has shown that getting to an intended task improved by 6%, getting on with work improved by 7% and production improved overall by 10% and users had 33% fewer errors.

These dramatic findings are supported by a special report produced by Jon Peddie Research which estimated a productivity improvement of 42% with multiple screens. And Microsoft Research identified a productivity improvement of up to 50% for tasks such as cutting, comparing information, and pasting.

In other words, a multi-display environment means people have all the information they need, where they need it - right in front of them. Applications can be instinctively dragged from one screen to another or compared side-to-side. Work is more fluid, faster and more efficient with no printing off of material to enable side-by-side comparison. Why have less productivity when you can have more!

For home users you can read emails, handle instant messaging and browse the web all at one time.  Some games will also allow you to split information bwteeen two screens.

So the next question is how do I get two screens? Well some of the newer video cards have multiple video outputs. that means these systems will automatically support a second monitor. If your video card does not have a second monitor connection you can upgrade your video to a newer card that has multiple connectors.  The advantage with upgrading your video card is that you will usually be upgrading the graphics processor power which can make screen updates faster for games, spreadsheets, photo editing, etc.

Don't want to upgrade your video card because you are not comfortable opening your computer case? Another option is USB video adapters. These video adapters simply plug into a USB port on your PC and can enable up to as many as 16 monitors to run off of one system! Of course you would have to have a really powerful system to support 16 displays.  Most computers built in the past 2-3 years can easily handle a USB graphics adapter for that second display.

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