Is it true that two monitors make you more productive than one?
When you see somebody with two monitors, you might suppose they have some specialised task that necessitates so much screen real estate, or they just really like technology.
Even if you're doing accounting or paperwork all day, having the extra display space that a second screen gives can be beneficial.
We've become accustomed to being hemmed in by our screen size. This can make it difficult to accommodate two windows close or switch back and forth between layers of windows on the desktop.
Most of us have had the experience of clicking about in a layer of different applications to find the window we need. Unfortunately, this is one thing that takes up time during the day but can be avoided by using two screens.
According to a study conducted by software provider Mavenlink, 73 per cent of businesses polled estimate they spend more than an hour each day switching between apps.
PRODUCTIVITY RESEARCH ON DUAL-SCREENS
So, how much can a second monitor boost your productivity? Probably a lot more than you think.
Jon Peddie's Research has been studying the advantages of using two screens connected to a desktop computer or laptop for several years. According to the study, employees in all types of employment enhanced production by an average of 42 per cent.
Between 2002 and 2017, three studies over 15 years discovered a considerable increase in the use of two monitors, with a compound annual growth rate of 10%.
The company's namesake said, "The more you can see, the more you can do."
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ADDING THE 2ND SCREEN?
DO MORE IN LESS TIME
The most significant benefit of using a second monitor is that you can accomplish more in less time because you aren't wasting time trying to get to the windows you need at the right time.
If you have a second monitor, you can have apps like email open on one screen while working on other programmes on the second screen. Consequently, you'll be able to work more quickly and access all of your apps when needed.
EXPANDS SCREEN-SPACE FOR LAPTOPS
Laptops are incredibly portable, especially while travelling or commuting between home and work (as many employees do these days). However, the smaller the screen space is on a laptop, the more portable it is.
A tiny monitor is one of the significant disadvantages of using a laptop. There's also the matter of positioning. People frequently try to prop them up when using them at a desk, but in most situations, the individual is still peering down at the screen.
Connecting your laptop to a monitor can significantly improve your experience and make it feel like you're working on a desktop computer. You can mirror your complete screen or utilise the laptop screen for some tasks while the larger screen is used for others.
SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISONS ARE EASIER
Many jobs necessitate the simultaneous examination of data in two windows. For example, you might be altering and comparing a finished design to the original instructions. Alternatively, you may need to extract information from your notes to incorporate in an InDesign presentation.
Getting two windows to appear side by side on a single screen can be challenging. If you try to resize the windows, your settings will be lost when you need to maximise a screen to click a menu item or scroll.
You have enough screen real estate with two monitors to fully open both windows and have them right next to each other so you can easily do your work.
MORE FREEDOM DURING VIDEO CALLS
Have you ever needed to read an email or review notes while on a video call and needed to check your screen? Unfortunately, it isn't easy to do so when everyone can see your screen. As a result, we frequently "sanitise" our screens (by turning off alerts, for example) before entering a meeting to ensure that nothing inappropriate appears.
With dual screens, you can pick which screen to share during meetings while still having apps on the second screen that no one can see - a huge benefit if you need to check an email or message someone while sharing your screen.
FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTER
When it comes to technology, buying a new display is a relatively inexpensive expenditure. A monitor might cost anything from £100 to £200 on average. It can also have a good ROI considering an average productivity rise of 42 per cent.
There isn't much of a learning curve with this improvement, either. It's ready to go after the monitor is connected and the PC is adjusted to see the second screen. Users may slide apps and data from one screen to the next as if they were using a single huge screen - it's that simple.
The article is used with permission from The Technology Press.
