Signs of significance [digital displays]

Because they're so important, signs need to be very clear. Simplicity means that you don't risk having the style of the presentation conflict with the underlying message. Blandness means you avoid contamination or distortion of the message. So a simple, bland sign should be perfectly legible and perfectly boring. If you're careful and clever, you can work in some design as well. In this article, I focus on the purely electronic displays, typically implemented with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or light-emitting panels. The evolution of the electronic digital display provides a fascinating example of graphic design cooperating with technology. Digital displays also demonstrate the practical importance of economy: not only must they be easy to read but they must also be economical to make and buy.