DSTN (double super twisted nematic), also known as dual-scan super twisted nematic or simply dual-scan, is an
LCD
A liquid-crystal display (LCD) is a flat-panel display or other electronically modulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combined with polarizers to display information. Liquid crystals do not em ...
technology in which a screen is divided in half, which are simultaneously refreshed giving faster refresh rate than traditional
passive matrix Passive matrix addressing is an addressing scheme used in early liquid crystal displays (LCDs). It is a matrix addressing scheme, meaning that only ''m'' + ''n'' control signals are required to address an ''m'' × ''n'' di ...
screens.
It is an improved form of
supertwist nematic display that offers low power consumption but inferior sharpness and brightness compared to
TFT screens.
History
For several years (early 1990s
to early 2000s), TFT screens were only found in high-end
laptop
A laptop computer or notebook computer, also known as a laptop or notebook, is a small, portable personal computer (PC). Laptops typically have a Clamshell design, clamshell form factor (design), form factor with a flat-panel computer scree ...
s due to them being more expensive and lower-end laptops offering DSTN screens only. This was at a time when the screen was often the most expensive component of laptops. The price difference between a laptop with DSTN and one with TFT could easily be $400 or more. However, TFT gradually became cheaper and essentially captured the entire market, before being replaced with IPS (itself in the process of being replaced with OLED, starting with high-end).
DSTN display quality is poor compared to TFT, with visible noise, smearing, much lower contrast and slow response. Such screens are unsuitable for viewing movies or playing video games of any kind.
References
Liquid crystal displays
Display technology
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