On 2023-Sep-16, at 8:52 AM, Shoppa, Tim via cctalk wrote: > Not quite computer tech but I figure this is the best place to ask: > > Does anyone recognize the display tech that was used on the Concorde's > in-cabin display? > > Examples: > https://samchui.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CON15.jpg > https://samchui.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/CON16.jpg > > The display had fully-formed digits and letters, and showed either Mach and > Feet, or Temp and MPH. Some pictures show the display in green and others > show it in orange - which of course were popular monochrome CRT colors, yet > the display looks too "flat" to be a couple CRT's. Those colors were also > popular for Electroluminiscent displays which matches the evident "flatness" > but I'm not sure I've seen any EL's with fully formed digits like this with > no visible segmentation? > > I want to guess it was individual digits back-projected - which was a popular > control-theater display tech at the end of the 20th century - but I can't > rule out, say, really well-done edge-lit character plates. In any event there > doesn't seem to be any visible jitter up and down between digits that I might > expect with either of those technologies. > > The "FEET" display in the above-referenced JPG's shows some artifacts at the > left and right edges which might be a clue? > > Some pics of the BA Concorde interior had a simple 15-segment and 7-segment > green LED display. Don't need help with that one 🙂.
It sure looks like back-projection. Rather than individual digits, perhaps it was a single scroll for each of the items. E.g. the altitude display may have been only 1000-ft resolution, the temperature display only 5-degree resolution, etc., reducing the count of values to be presented to something manageable. Even then though, I can't say I've seen an off-the-shelf type that would fit, even with custom films. But being Concorde, a full-custom design is quite conceivable.
