Headquarters South Windsor Type Corporation | Founded 1973 | |
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Industry Industrial, military, and commercial grade LCD monitors Key people Bryan Gudrian, President Products Standalone LCD Video Monitors
Rack Mounted Video Monitors Website www.generaldigital.com
www.gdoptilabs.com
www.gdsoftwareservices.com | ||
General Digital is a United States government registered small business located in South Windsor, Connecticut that was founded in 1973. Today, the corporation manufactures LCD monitors and associated hardware products for commercial, military, and industrial usage. General Digital also provides software engineering and optical enhancements for LCD monitor technology. The company also has a second office location in Bohemia, New York.
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History
General Digital invented the first gas plasma, flat panel, touch screen serial LCD computer monitor and terminal in 1977, called the VuePoint. In 1982, the release of the VuePoint II signaled the creation of the first microprocessor programmable intelligent terminal. Today, VuePoint computer monitors are still in use to aid printing processes, flight simulation, and powerplant monitoring.
Following another VuePoint product evolution, General Digital released a slim, flip-up LCD monitor in 1992 (trademarked the SlimLine) that stood 2U in height with a keyboard and pointing device. The 1994 release of the SlimLine marked the creation of the first foldup rack mount display capable of passing requirements for military shock and vibration. The United States Navy continues to use several first-generation SlimLine monitor units today.
With the release of the GenStar line in 1998, General Digital manufactured the first large format LCD capable of 27:1 contrast ratio, allowing the screen to be readable in direct sunlight.
Optical Bonding Laboratory
Throughout the 1990s, General Digital's product line was used with great frequency by national government agencies, including the FAA and Department of Defense. To assist these departments in enhancing their LCD monitors, General Digital developed an optical bonding process, where a filtered (or reinforced glass) covering was applied to the surface of existing LCD modules. The results of the addition of the optical bonding process included improved visual contrast and durability of monitor surface. Due to the success of the process, General Digital now applies its optical bonding process to its entire rack mount monitor product line.
In 2002, General Digital established an individual business unit to its LCD monitor company, named the General Digital Optical Bonding Laboratory.