General Digital

One of our mechanical designers, Frank, tells the following story:

“In college, I had a VW Beetle. I was amazed how many things I could fix. One summer, I did a simple repair: I loosened three bolts, replaced something, and tightened the bolts. The car ran great for six weeks. I returned to school, and some buddies and I decided to go find some babes.”

The four of them took off in the VW–and it burst into flames. What had Frank done?

If no one figures this out, we’ll post the answer during the last week of February. So c’mon all you backyard mechanics! Make your best educated guess–or even a wild one!

Published January 26, 2012

There are few things more heartrending than buying liquid crystal displays, ensuring their safe transport, and handling them with extreme care, only to damage them irreparably during the mounting process. Because a liquid crystal display (LCD) is extremely sensitive to mechanical stress and susceptible to electrostatic discharge (ESD), careful considerations must be given to it when mounting. This is especially true when the display is optically bonded from the outside of the display frame. Failure to take proper precautions can result in panel failures, including permanent damage of circuits due to electrostatic discharges, brightness hot spots, delamination of the bond in ambient or elevated environments, cracking of the cover glass, and cracking of the LCD, among other catastrophes.

Though LCDs are rather fragile, simple yet effective practices exist that will enable you to complete the mounting project with little complication. First, the optically-bonded products must be handled with both hands from opposite edges of the display frame. Long before ever mounting the optically-bonded LCD, damage can occur through improper handling. It is also very important to note that, as with all electronic devices and components, proper ESD protection practices must be followed accordingly. An electric shock can easily sound the death knell for your optically-bonded LCD.

The mechanically stress-sensitive nature of liquid crystal displays requires customers to take special precautions when designing the mounting details for any given applications. As a general rule, the panel should be mounted evenly and reliably using the panel manufacturer’s mounting points. Absolutely no excessive stress should be applied to the optical surface and other parts of the the frame. When mounting the panel, ensure that it is in the correct position first, tightening the screws gently and evenly. It is highly recommended that a torque wrench be used to avoid over/under tightness.

Following these simple instructions will go a long way toward helping you complete your project without costly and time-consuming repairs.

Published January 16, 2012

“If you ask for a lot at most places, you’re asking for too much.”

Here at General Digital, customization is our specialty. Whether its optimizing your limited rack space with one of our monitor/keyboard/trackball units, or upgrading your panel mount units to full HD, we give you what you want affordably, promptly, and even at low quantity.

Watch our video to see a humorous take on what happens when you ask for too much at some places.

Published January 6, 2012

Completely submerged in a fully-decorated fish tank while showing fan favorites such as Finding Nemo and Spongebob SquarePants, as well as the requisite fish tank screen saver, the Barracuda is often hailed as the center of attention when displayed in our booth at trade shows. Owing to the cynicism of the times, many express doubt that the Barracuda is really submerged at all, thinking instead that the setup is some sort of elaborate trick. But this is no hoax; the Barracuda™ is engineered for the harshest environments.

Designed to meet IP67 and NEMA4X standards, the Barracuda holds up against the assaults of complete immersion in liquids as well as exposure to humidity, dust, blowing sand and the like. These qualifications make it ideal for use in military and mining applications.

In this brief video, we demonstrate the Barracuda’s ability to function while completely submerged. The fish tank, decorated as it would be at any of the trade shows at which we exhibit, is filled with water and the Barracuda is powered on and displaying simulated fish. For the purpose of the video, the Barracuda is left in the water for a short period. At the trade shows, the Barracuda remains submerged for up to eight or nine hours at a time.

Mentioned in the video, though not demonstrated, is the fact that the connectors on the monitor are also fully sealed regardless of connection. It is this attention to detail and functionality that you’ve come to expect from the innovators of flat panel technology.

Published January 5, 2012

Close your eyes and picture this…Well, close your eyes and picture this after you’ve first read this with your eyes open…

A smoky battlefield, heavy gunfire, advancing enemy infantry…and the command to retreat. Get ready for high action in the trailer for the movie, “General Digital”. In the trailer, the General has to mobilize his unit to fall back from the front line; no easy task by any means, but nothing too hard for the General. The scene calls for a death-defying plunge off a cliff and into the murky waters of the river below. Oh, and did we mention the explosion? This kind of action requires a stuntman like no other. Enter the Barracuda™ by General Digital: fully environmentally sealed to keep out contaminants like water, sand, dust, and oil, and ruggedized to withstand bumps and bruises.

If the producers of “General Digital” called on the Barracuda for the tough jobs, shouldn’t you?

Published November 17, 2011

How does General Digital end a year of trade shows and road trips? Our final trip, which began November 7th and ended on the 12th, took us to two locales: Charleston, SC, and Eagan, MN. We arrived in Charleston on Monday and we were greeted with bright blue skies. While there, we visited SRC, SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic, and CGI Federal (formerly Stanley Associates). Because we’d shipped the majority of our flat screen LCD monitors to Eagan in anticipation of our Demo Day at Lockheed Martin, we showed off our 20-inch SlimLine Lite II flip-up display rack mount unit with CAC smart card reader, as well as our 15.4″ Saber PanelMount Solar Sunlight Readable LCD monitor. Both units generated much interest at each of our stops. Seeing the smart card reader doesn’t necessarily make engineers want a smart card reader, but it does make them aware that our product selection is far greater than they might have imagined. Our Saber PanelMount unit illustrates this point perfectly, as it is a demo unit that displays a vast range of capabilities that we employ, such as: EMI filter; ITO heater with antireflective coating; LED backlights; and user-programmable backlit buttons.

Flying out of Charleston Tuesday night, we left behind balmy temperatures in the low seventies and arrived in chilly Minneapolis with temperatures in the mid-forties. In spite of the cold temps, our Demo Day at Lockheed Martin was warmly received as we were able to speak with many technical personnel there. The Demo Day, which lasted from 9 am to 2 pm, is very similar to our trade show exhibit, complete with backdrop and our monitors powered up showing captivating images and playing movies. The Demo Day allows us to interact with various personnel on a technical level which does not typically exist at a trade show. In addition to our 20″ SlimLine Lite II and 15.4″ Saber PanelMount, we displayed our 37″ large format Titan; the 19″ TwoView dual flip-up displays rack mount unit; the 8.4″ Saber Dual RackMount unit; and our environmentally sealed 8.4″ Barracuda, completely submerged in a fully decorated fish tank playing Finding Nemo and Spongebob Squarepants. After our Demo Day in Eagan, we were also able to visit BAE Systems and General Dynamics in Minneapolis and Bloomington, respectively.

Overall, this was a great trip. Once again, we had the opportunity to create a greater awareness of how General Digital is poised to meet the needs of existing and future programs. Our highly customizable solutions are often prized by those with whom we meet. Customer service seemed to be the main theme on this trip. Several of our customers commended us for our knowledgeable and friendly staff and our complete willingness to correct any issues that can occasionally develop. As we have often stressed here at General Digital: our business is not about the sale, it’s about the relationship. With 6-1/2 weeks left in 2011, we are looking forward to a (somewhat) relaxing holiday season, and then an even greater year to come!

Published October 19, 2011

What’s better than spending three days in the capital of our great nation? How about exhibiting at AUSA’s Annual Meeting & Expo? That’s right, from October 10th-12th Tenell Rhodes and Brian Martin set up shop at the Walter Washington Convention Center in the heart of the city. Ken Hagland, another display specialist at General Digital, joined us in presenting our wares over the course of the three days. Though we have exhibited at the AUSA Winter Symposium in Fort Lauderdale for the past five years, this was our first time at AUSA’s premier venue.

On display were some of our road trip regulars as well as some of our other unique and interesting flat panel LCD monitors. Between showing movies in HD and providing a large screen on which to engage in PlayStation 3 games, the 37-inch Titan was big and bold. With monitors as large as 65 inches (and beyond), the 37-inch Titan is not the largest of our monitors; however, because it is relatively portable, it has become one of our established trade show icons. Of course, the 8.4-inch Barracuda (fully environmentally sealed against water, dust, sand, and oil) made an appearance. Completely submerged in a fully-decorated fish tank, and playing Finding Nemo and the SpongeBob Square Pants movies, the Barracuda sparked lots of interest. Our 19-inch TwoView (dual flip-up LCDs rack mount unit) was front and center in our booth, with the TwoView Micro (dual flip-down LCDs rack mount unit without keyboard and trackball) affixed to the rack above it. Both units offer the convenience of two monitors in the space normally reserved for one. The 24-inch widescreen Saber Standalone joined us for the trade show, as well. It’s slim profile and silicone backlit buttons showed remarkably well. Perhaps our most diverse monitor was the 15.4-inch Saber PanelMount Solar unit. This monitor does a great job of showing off many of the capabilities that we offer. It boasts a heater, touch screen, EMI filter, night vision goggle compatibility, sunlight readability, LED backlights, and backlit buttons. Not to mention that it’s quite stylish!

An expo this large demanded that we not only man the booth but also walk the convention center. We visited the booths of many of our customers, discussing current and new programs along the way. We were also able to meet new prospects who found that we are highly qualified to provide them with the products and services that perfectly suit their needs. It was undoubtedly a great opportunity for us and we look forward to exhibiting well into the future.

Of course, when have you ever known us to call it quits after just three days? Having been invited to attend the Small Business Exposition at Northrop Grumman the very next morning, we were given the opportunity to set up some of our displays from the trade show. In addition, we were introduced to program managers and systems engineers who work on programs similar to those that already employ what we offer. Again, it was a great event to attend because we are always looking for ways to accommodate our customers’ needs. With a November business trip looming, the search continues….

Published September 22, 2011

What do you call eight days of road-running meets and greets? Why, it could only be one thing: General Digital’s Mid-Atlantic Road Trip! And where did we go this time? From Massachusetts all the way down to southern Virginia, Tenell Rhodes and Brian Martin stopped in to discuss current programs with our customers and future plans where we might be of service. What started out on September 8th and ended on September 19th was a road trip of monumental proportions.

Our stops in Massachusetts and Connecticut brought us before Kollmorgen, DRS, Hamilton Sundstrand, Electric Boat, and Pratt & Whitney. We dazzled with our astounding diversity of product offerings, which included our Titan PanelMount 37-inch LCD monitor; TwoView dual 19-inch flip-up rack mount unit; 15.4-inch Saber PanelMount; 21.5-inch Saber Standalone monitor; and 8.4-inch Saber RackMount Dual unit. In New Jersey and Maryland we visited Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Because we specialize not only in ruggedization but also in designs that emphasize maximizing limited space, we’ve become a favorite of systems engineers and program managers whose programs supply equipment in such tight areas as cockpits and submarines.

Traveling through Virginia brought us to Lockheed Martin, Harris Corporation, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine, and Newport News Shipbuilding. You’d think that after eight days of hotel-hopping we’d have lost some of our luster but you’d be mistaken. Each stop along the way was met with enthusiastic exclamations of surprise as we demonstrated solutions for nearly every present and future project and program that these companies support. That kind of reception made it easy for us to unpack the monitors, sing their praises, and then pack them up to do it all over again. Perhaps the single word we heard the most was “impressive”; and we must admit, it was a most impressive trip.

Published August 24, 2011

The mission statement of any company defines the objectives and direction of a concerted group of people. General Digital is no different in its adoption of a mission by which to define itself. Where others focus on rote practices of market expansion or building a better mousetrap, General Digital is a custom engineering company. This means that there are no cookie cutters here; no “same size, different color” tactics. At General Digital, we understand that our customers are the board of directors. If we don’t give you what you want, then we’ve failed to achieve our objective. In our latest video, “Q&A with our Mission”, we feature our very own employees contributing to your purchasing experience. We recognize our commitment to you because, at General Digital, your satisfaction is our passion.

Published August 15, 2011

It’s not enough that General Digital is highly recognized and highly regarded by customers and competitors alike. Nor is it enough to merely manufacture and maintain the industry’s leading commercial, industrial, and military-grade flat panel LCD monitors. At General Digital, we’re opening our doors to let you meet the minds behind the magic.

In the second installment of our “Q&A” series, we asked members of our engineering departments to define the term ‘superior design’. After all, if anyone can expound on the importance of design done right, it would be our engineers, “wizards” in their own right. Hear, in their words, what sets General Digital at the forefront of LCD technological innovations.