VESA

VESA (/[unsupported input]/), or the Video Electronics Standards Association, is an international non-profit corporation standards body for computer graphics formed in 1988 by NEC Home Electronics, maker of the MultiSync monitor line, and eight video display adapter manufacturers: ATI Technologies, Genoa Systems, Orchid Technology, Renaissance GRX, STB Systems, Tecmar, Video 7 and Western Digital/Paradise Systems.

VESA's initial goal was to produce a standard for 800x600 SVGA resolution video displays. Since then VESA has issued a number of standards, mostly relating to the function of video peripherals in personal computers.

In November 2010, VESA announced a cooperative agreement with the Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig) for sharing technology expertise and specifications to develop multi-gigabit wireless DisplayPort capabilities. DisplayPort is a VESA technology that provides digital display connectivity for Monitor mount.

Standards

• VESA Feature Connector (VFC), obsolete connector that was often present on older videocards, used as an 8-bit video bus to other devices
• VESA Advanced Feature Connector (VAFC), newer version of the above VFC that widens the 8-bit bus to either a 16-bit or 32-bit bus
• VESA Local Bus (VLB), once used as a fast video bus (akin to the more recent AGP)
• VESA BIOS Extensions (VBE), used for enabling standard support for advanced video modes (at high resolutions and color depths)
• Display Data Channel (DDC), a data link protocol which allows a host device to control an attached display and communicate EDID, DPMS, MCCS and similar messages
• E-EDID, a data format for display identification data that defines supported resolutions and video timings
• Monitor Control Command Set (MCCS), a message protocol for controlling display parameters such as brightness, contrast, display orientation from the host device
• DisplayID, display identification data format, which is a replacement for E-EDID.
• VESA Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS), which allows monitors to be queried on the types of power saving modes they support
• Digital Packet Video Link (DPVL), a display link standard that allows to update only portions of the screen
• VESA Stereo, a standard 3-pin connector for synchronization of stereoscopic images with LC shutter glasses
• Flat Display Mounting Interface (FDMI), which defines "VESA mounts"
• Generalized Timing Formula (GTF), video timings standard
• Coordinated Video Timings (CVT), a replacement for GTF
• VESA Video Interface Port (VIP), a digital video interface standard
• DisplayPort Standard, a digital video interface standard
• VESA Enhanced Video Connector, an obsolete standard for reducing the number of cables around computers.

Criticisms

VESA has been criticized for their policy of charging non-members for some of their published standards. Some people believe the practice of charging for specifications has undermined the purpose of the VESA organization. According to Kendall Bennett, developer of the VBE/AF standard, the VESA Software Standards Committee was closed down due to a lack of interest resulting from charging high prices for specifications. At that time no VESA standards were available for free. Although VESA now hosts some free standards documents, the free collection does not include newly developed standards. Even for obsolete standards, the free collection is incomplete. As of 2010, current standards documents from VESA cost hundreds to thousands of dollars each. Some older standards are not available for free, or for purchase. As of 2010, the free downloads require mandatory registration. While not all standards bodies provide specifications freely available for download, many do, including: ITU, JEDEC, DDWG, and HDMI (through HDMI 1.3a).

At the time DisplayPort was announced, VESA was criticized for developing the specification in secret and having a track record of developing unsuccessful digital interface standards, including Plug & Display and Digital Flat Panel.

External links

• Group home page