Computer display options change constantly and the number of port options on most laptops have become more limited in recent years. Originally, VGA was the only choice for external displays, with resolution options that were not optimal for displaying evidence in the courtroom. Over the years both VGA output resolutions and laptop screen resolutions have greatly improved, and additional display ports have been created, including DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C. Today it is common to find new laptops with only a USB-C display option.

Where courtrooms have presentation equipment installed or when presentation equipment is set up for a trial, it is critical to know and understand the connections and screen resolutions of the equipment. Here we’ll discuss the adapters needed to correctly connect your computer output into the court system as well as possible challenges that might arise.

First let’s start with the display adapters (dongles). These will typically have a “male” end that plugs into your computer and a “female” end that will allow connection to the presentation equipment. Below are photos of various adapters.

Plan to scout the courtroom prior to the day of your presentation to determine which adapter you’ll need and to test functionality. It is recommended to bring at least two adapters manufactured by different companies to ensure compatibility.

Following are some potential challenges that could arise when using various display adapters.

1. DisplayPort – In some court systems, DisplayPort will not be able to display the correct resolution required by the presentation system. Be prepared to either use a different port on your computer (HDMI, VGA, USB-C)
2. HDMI – When using an HDMI to VGA converter the audio might not work out of the headphone jack. To fix this, open the sound settings and change the output to the headphone jack rather than the HDMI port. For Windows computers this can be done by right-clicking on the speaker icon in your system tray, selecting “Open Sound Settings”, and then selecting the correct output. Every laptop will have different options depending on their own unique hardware configuration. You may need to try each one until the sound plays correctly.
3. USB-C – When using a USB-C to VGA converter, the same problem can occur where the audio does not work out of the headphone jack. The procedure to fix audio issues is the same as for the HDMI adapter.