The group said DisplayPort device certification grew to 1,395 devices to date in 2014, up from 805 devices at the beginning of the year. In 2014, VESA added 13 new member companies for a total of 224 members. Also during this past year, VESA released several DisplayPort-related standards, including DisplayPort 1.3, DisplayPort Alt Mode on USB Type-C, DockPort and Display Stream Compression.

“DisplayPort penetration into PCs is expected to increase over 26 percent annually through 2018,” said Brian O'Rourke, senior principal analyst at IHS. “In addition, LCD PC monitor penetration is expected to grow at 56 percent per year. DisplayPort benefits from its high throughput, which can easily accommodate HD video bandwidths, as well as its integration into PC chipsets from all major vendors.”

Originally developed by the PC industry through VESA, DisplayPort quickly became the next-generation video/audio interface for desktop and portable computer systems. Highly extensible and royalty-free, the standard offers the highest display performance available, as well as unique capabilities such as multiple monitor support. Initial adoption by system OEMs has been driven by ease of integration into chips designed for computers, tablets, phones and displays.

While originally intended to be used with its own specified connector, the flexibility and extensibility of DisplayPort has taken it in new directions, VESA said. Similar to USB, DisplayPort is based on a data packet structure, and has the ability to be easily transported across different connection types and even with other data. This packetization is also what makes it flexible while being backward compatible, and allows it to support various format converters, including DisplayPort to VGA, DVI and HMDI adaptors.

The Thunderbolt standard developed by Apple and Intel, as well as the VESA DockPort standard, utilizes DisplayPort protocol to transport display and audio data. In 2015, products will be launched using the new USB Type-C connector that also support DisplayPort over this connector, using the DisplayPort Alt Mode standard published by VESA earlier this year. In addition, the DisplayPort protocol is supported by the WiGig standard, unveiled last year by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

On another front, Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) is becoming the embedded display interface of choice for very high-resolution displays in all-in-one PCs, notebooks and tablets. In early 2015, VESA will release eDP version 1.4a, which includes support for 5K x 3K resolution, borrowing from DisplayPort version 1.3. The eDP 1.4a spec also supports VESA's new Display Stream Compression (DSC) standard, released in April 2014. DSC was defined in collaboration with the MIPI Alliance and is optimized for portable system embedded display applications. VESA is currently beginning development on a similar standard for displays requiring a higher compression rate that is also intended for industry-wide use in other display interface standards.

Another key development announced earlier this year is the addition of AdaptiveSync to the DisplayPort standard. AdaptiveSync enhances gaming action and video playback through active frame rate control, providing smoother and better-quality images. It also allows seamless reduction in the display refresh rate, lowering system power and extending battery life.

At the CES 2015 convention in Las Vegas this week (South Hall - 1, Booth 20624), VESA is spotlighting multiple demonstrations that illustrate the power and flexibility of DisplayPort and related standards. These include:

• USB Type-C - The ability to send DisplayPort, super-speed USB, and charging power through a single USB Type-C connector and cable will be on display. DisplayPort Alt Mode, developed jointly between VESA and USB, enables the highest display performance available, combined with the USB Type-C connector's high-speed data transfer and power delivery functions.
• Large-screen Gaming - The unsurpassed visual experience offered by DisplayPort will be on display; using a 4K at 60Hz display can also enable low latency.
• AdaptiveSync - VESA's new Adaptive-Sync addition to DisplayPort enhances gaming action through active frame rate control while also reducing system power and extending battery life.
• 5K Display - The latest DisplayPort v1.3 standard can enable 5K at 60Hz displays through a single cable without the use of compression.
• Display Stream Compression - Compressed vs. uncompressed video demonstrated side-by-side will showcase the visually lossless performance of this new standard that enables resolution beyond what is possible today.
• The Flexibility of DisplayPort - VESA will be demonstration multi-display capability, and the ability of DisplayPort to support protocol adaptors to support other display interfaces.

VESA is an international, non-profit standards association representing a global network of more than 200 hardware, software, computer, display and component manufacturers committed to developing and promoting the electronics industry.