Professional calibration on flat panel LCDs, can contribute to display device longevity when Contrast (White Level) is reduced and by default, heat is reduced. It is a simple yet misunderstood misnomer to say that one should choose LCD over Plasma because Plasma will inherit phosphor wear and "burn in". While it certainly could, and would if abused, LCD is not without its issues. Heat affects all electronics, and if an LCD flat panel is subjected to a prolonged static duty cycle (not within a viewing cycle of a single user's duration, but a "routine" such as the same channel with a banner as news or sports information channels utilize, say in a sports bar setting) then the transistors (more likely a surface mounted device) can fail prematurely.

Plasma, in analogous fashion, benefits from calibration, though obviously for different technical reasons. The durability of the phosphors these days and the resistance to burn-in is profoundly improved. The ISF did a research white paper for Pioneer a few years back and though the information pointing to the durability of plasma is even more so today than three years ago, results showed that conscientious settings from manufacturers (a Movie Mode, for example, that reduces Contrast levels from Nantucket Lighthouse to something more sane) or a complete professional calibration not only improved image fidelity but lowered power consumption and increased the potential for longevity (barring circuit failures and only referring to phosphor wear and durability).

As professional calibrators, we would do so for the purpose of improving the image to match the capabilities the manufacturers' engineers designed in. That there is an improvement to the lifespan of the device is one of life's simple pleasures.

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