The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has introduced a new standard designed to support ease of use and true Plug & Play capability for display and graphics subsystems in the personal computer.

Developed to address the rapid pace of new graphics hardware and software product introductions, the Plug & Play (PnP) Standard defines a procedure for Plug & Play in the display/graphics subsystem. It assumes that the graphics subsystem in the computer has been installed, enumerated and configured by a computer system and covers all operations that take place in the monitor, video interface, and from any sources of computer-generated images. These include graphics cards, chips or systems on a motherboard, tablet PCs, PDA, workstation computer or a notebook PC's external monitor video ports.

The new standard also incorporates references to operations that occur in the OS and in device drivers, and includes a list of required elements and processes for true PnP. One basic recommendation in the PnP standard suggests that the capabilities of the video generating hardware -- such as video pixel formats, color depth, vertical refresh rates, and others - match or exceed the capabilities of the monitor.

"The new standard supports VESA's efforts to promote ease of use and improve the user's experience," said Bill Lempesis, VESA's executive director. "It was developed to meet, exceed and/or complement standards objectives including support for Microsoft's Plug and Play definitions, the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) specification Version 1.0, and other digital interface standards."

A significant group of industry leaders were active on the VESA PnP Task Group and supported the efforts to refocus the digital/graphics industry toward true Plug & Play. These included ATI, Dell, IBM, Genesis, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Samsung, Total Technologies, and ViewSonic.

For more information about the new PnP standard, visit the VESA web site at www.vesa.org

The Video Electronics Standards Association is a worldwide organization with more than 115 member companies that promotes and develops timely, relevant, open display and display interface standards, ensuring interoperability, and encouraging innovation and market growth.