Video display mode for dual displays

Abstract

A controller, for two display units of a computer system, includes two control elements, VCand VC, having separate connections to the display units. In a dual image (DI) mode of operation, VCand VCprocess different data to produce different images at respective display units. In a single Image (SI) mode, VCand VCprocess the same data to produce identical images. In DI mode, data applied to each control element represents a portion, less than the whole, of a virtual desktop scene having a display width exceeding width resolution settings of respective displays. In this mode VCcan be controlled manually to scan the entire virtual scene piecemeal, while VCis constrained to process only a fixed portion of that scene. In a preferred embodiment, the virtual scene includes private and public areas. The private area shows notes intended for viewing only by a presenter of images shown in the public area, and the public area shows images viewable both by the presenter and an audience. In this arrangement, the display connected to VCcan display the entire virtual scene to the presenter in a piecemeal fashion, while the second display shows only the public area to the audience.