WiGig, VESA Collaborate On Wireless Display Standards

The Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig Alliance) and the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) have joined forces to work on the next-generation standard for wireless display technology.

The two industry groups will work to develop multi-gigabit wireless displayport capabilities by sharing technology expertise and specifications. In tandem with developing the wireless standard, a certification program for wireless displayport products will be formed.

Both consumers and IT users are looking for the ability to connect PCs, handhelds, and other consumer electronics (CEs) to monitors, projectors, and high-definition televisions (HDTVs) wirelessly, the industry groups said. The goal of the WiGig-VESA partnership is to deliver a wireless display function whose image quality and I/O experience is equal to the one provided by wired interfaces. The development of a new ecosystem that consists of interoperable wireless display products that provide a wireless alternative to cables, docking stations, and adapters will be forged by the agreement.

"WiGig technology is a perfect match for DisplayPort since it provides the multi-gigabit bandwidth, packet architecture and bi-directional I/O capabilities needed to support the DisplayPort v1.2 feature set and beyond," said Bruce Montag, VESA chairman, in a statement. "Wireless DisplayPort will enable new connectivity options in a wide range of devices, from lower-power handhelds to tablets, notebooks, monitors, projectors, and HDTVs. We are thrilled to begin defining the specification and certification program for wireless DisplayPort products."

Standardizing on a wireless display interface is the vision of the WiGig Alliance, added Dr. Ali Sadri, alliance president and chairman, noting that there are many proprietary wireless A/V technologies on the market. "Combining our wireless technology and VESA's display expertise enables a high-quality user experience with a certification program, enabling interoperability across CE, PC, tablets, and handheld devices," he said in a statement.

In related news, the WiGig version 1.0 A/V and I/O protocol adaption layer (PAL) specifications have been completed, the alliance said on Wednesday, and will be published in early 2011. Specific system interfaces will be benefit from the new application specifications, including extensions for PC peripherals and display interfaces for HDTVs, monitors, and projectors.

WiGig is an international organization promoting the advancement and worldwide adoption of 60-GHz wireless technology, and was formed to establish high-speed and easy-to-use wireless devices that work together seamlessly. VESA is a non-profit organization committed to developing and promoting display standards and the electronics industry as a whole. VESA represents a global network of hardware, software, PC, display, and component manufacturers.

"As a high-quality content creator in Hollywood, it is exciting to see the innovative solutions being offered by advanced wireless technology to fulfill the ever-increasing demand for anywhere, anytime content consumption," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, in a statement.