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New LED Wall Modernizes Virtual Reality Environment at LRZ

Technologie:Virtual Reality Forschungsbereich:Visualisation
09.11.2026

State-of-the-art LED technology now makes research results displayed on the Powerwall at the LRZ’s Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization even more impressive and detailed. Visitors will be able to experience this firsthand at the Open Lab Day at December, 13.

The Center for Virtual Reality and Visualization (V2C) at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) has comprehensively upgraded its Powerwall. The previous system, based on projectors and a projection screen, has been replaced by cutting-edge light-emitting diode technology, consisting of 800 LED tiles. Put simply, a Powerwall can be compared to a very high-performance monitor connected to a computer system. “We wanted the very latest technology for the Powerwall,” says Dr. Thomas Odaker, Head of V2C, “while ensuring that existing applications would not need to be modified.”

High Resolution and Brilliant Colors

The new Powerwall, installed by the Austrian company Kraftwerk Living Technologies, offers a resolution of 4,800 × 2,700 pixels across a display area measuring 6 x 3.375 meters. Its exceptional sharpness and level of detail are enabled by a tiny pixel pitch, with only 1.25 millimeters between the centers of adjacent pixels. Each pixel uses three LEDs to produce vivid, brilliant colours.

When required, the Powerwall can display up to 240 frames per second, supporting exceptionally smooth motion rendering. “From a purely technical perspective, the changes to the Powerwall only affect the display output,” explains Odaker. “However, the LED technology provides significantly better image quality, higher resolution, superior color reproduction and brightness, as well as a more impressive 3D effect.”

Making Research Impactful

With support from V2C, researchers at LRZ turn simulation and imaging data into immersive virtual reality applications. By enabling users to view data from new perspectives, these applications reveal fresh insights and contribute to a deeper understanding of scientific phenomena.

Open Lab Day Marks the Premiere

Although the Powerwall has been completely renewed with LED technology, the underlying infrastructure, including the computer systems and software used to control it, remains unchanged. Existing visualizations can therefore be displayed without modification, but now with dramatically improved clarity and detail.

A further functional enhancement is already planned: a multi-user feature will soon be added. This will allow two people wearing compatible glasses to view the same visualization simultaneously from their own individual perspectives.

Researchers, students, and members of the public will soon have the opportunity to experience LRZ’s new Powerwall and its impressive visual capabilities firsthand. On 3 December 2026, V2C will host its Open Lab Day. Starting at 5:30 p.m., students will present a range of applications on both the new Powerwall and the CAVE environment, showcasing projects they developed during an internship at LRZ. The event’s motto is “Reality is Optional” and promises to be exciting, interactive, and fun.

Image Credit: © E. Mayer

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