Desk and Trading Array

Figure 8.1 shows a photograph of my trading room, which has plenty

of light and work space. The printer and other equipment are well

positioned to be easily accessible from the center of the trading desk.

You will also notice that I have three 19-inch monitors. Your trading

room can greatly contribute to how efficiently you process informaseizetion. Trading is all about seeing as much information as you can at a

glance and acting upon it. If your room is not set up efficiently, you

could actually lose money because of poor design. Figure 8.1 will give

you an idea of one type of trading room configuration.

The Trading Array There are three popular trading array configurations.

Two-, three-, and four-monitor arrays are the most common.

Let us take a look at these three setups.

1. Two-monitor array

In the two-monitor array setup, the monitors are set at an angle to

each other. Make sure that you can see everything on both screens

and that no glare reflects off the monitors. After half an hour of

exposure, glare can cause your eyes to burn and may initiate a

blinking reflex. If the monitors physically touch, it is possible that

electromagnetic flux lines will form near where they meet. The lines

are visible as black circular patterns near the edge of the screen. In

some cases, you can avoid this by keeping them 1 1/2 inches apart.

2. Three-monitor array

The three-monitor array is, in my opinion, the ideal configuration.

You have enough visual real estate to place your various trading software

in windows that are easy to see. The scale of your visual information

is important and usually overlooked. Larger charts are better.

A typical bar chart with intraday data should be at least 4 inches long

and 3 1/2 inches high. Your physical distance from the trading array is

also important. In a three-monitor configuration, while sitting in the

middle of the array, you should be able to extend your left arm to

the far right and move it in an arc in front of you without touching the

screens. The screens should be 3 inches from your finger tips. This

distance will enable you to see all three screens with very little movement

your head. (If you are constantly moving your head from side to

side, in less than an hour you will develop a neckache and possibly a

headache.) The three screens should be visible and well within your

peripheral vision. A simple yet effective way of correctly placing the

array is to sit at the desk where you are going to set up the three

screens and extend your arms to form a V shape. Looking straight

ahead, you should be able to see both of your hands.

3. Four-monitor array

Most likely, you will never need four monitors. It does, however,

give you a feeling of power and invincibility. Just remember, you can

lose money whether you trade with four monitors or one. If you are

going to use four monitors, do not stack them one on top of another

and do not arrange an array that forces you to tilt your head

upward. Place the monitors so that they are on eye level. Quite often, new traders will buy a large conference table and place all

four monitors in a line with themselves in the middle. This is fine;

however, most traders sit too close to the monitors. To see all four

monitors, they have to swing their heads from right to left all

through the trading day. If you use the four-monitor setup, sit back

far enough to enable you to see all of the monitors with very little

movement of your head.

Is Bigger Better? There is very little reason to purchase a 21-inch

monitor. The pure size and weight of the monitor makes it very cumbersome.

If you ever have to have it repaired, moving it could break

your back, and if that does not do it the repair bill will. It takes up so

much desk space that you have almost no work area. You may have

to move out so your 21-inch monitor will have a place to live. There

are cost-effective monitors on the market that give you a large visual

area and do not hog the work space on your desk. I suggest you look

at the ViewSonic PS 790 monitor. It is a nch monitor, but takes up

only the space of a 15-inch monitor. Always try to buy as much visual

real estate as you can without having it take over your desk.

As of yet, the flat-panel screens do not have the resolution or

dot pitch necessary to justify the cost. In at least one instance, the

repair costs on one flat-panel monitor were more than the price of a

17-inch monitor. In the future, the flat-panel or wall-mounted superscreens

will be the answer, but that is still a few years away. Now let

us consider other factors.

Other Factors When you are looking for monitors for your trading

array, you will want them to have the capability to achieve very high

resolutions. I suggest they have the ability to reach a screen resolution

of 1280 x 1024 or 1600 x 1200. Another factor is the dot pitch.

Dot pitch is responsible for the clear images. A dot pitch of 0.25 to

0.26 will give you superclear images. Your monitors should also

have the ability to reset to different refresh rates. Higher refresh

rates are better for your eyes. If, after the trading day, your eyes itch

and burn, more than likely it is because of your monitor's dot pitch

and low refresh rate. When it comes to your trading array, spend the

money necessary get the best monitors you can. You will probably spend from $350 to $550 for each monitor. Believe me, it is worth it

just to avoid itchy, burning eyes at the end of the trading day. As

with all trading equipment, remember to spend your money on

tools, not toys. Toys will cost a lot more in the long run. Figure 8.2

shows a photo of a three-monitor configuration.

Figure 8.1 shows a photograph of my trading room, which has plenty

of light and work space. The printer and other equipment are well

positioned to be easily accessible from the center of the trading desk.

You will also notice that I have three 19-inch monitors. Your trading

room can greatly contribute to how efficiently you process informaseizetion. Trading is all about seeing as much information as you can at a

glance and acting upon it. If your room is not set up efficiently, you

could actually lose money because of poor design. Figure 8.1 will give

you an idea of one type of trading room configuration.

The Trading Array There are three popular trading array configurations.

Two-, three-, and four-monitor arrays are the most common.

Let us take a look at these three setups.

1. Two-monitor array

In the two-monitor array setup, the monitors are set at an angle to

each other. Make sure that you can see everything on both screens

and that no glare reflects off the monitors. After half an hour of

exposure, glare can cause your eyes to burn and may initiate a

blinking reflex. If the monitors physically touch, it is possible that

electromagnetic flux lines will form near where they meet. The lines

are visible as black circular patterns near the edge of the screen. In

some cases, you can avoid this by keeping them 1 1/2 inches apart.

2. Three-monitor array

The three-monitor array is, in my opinion, the ideal configuration.

You have enough visual real estate to place your various trading software

in windows that are easy to see. The scale of your visual information

is important and usually overlooked. Larger charts are better.

A typical bar chart with intraday data should be at least 4 inches long

and 3 1/2 inches high. Your physical distance from the trading array is

also important. In a three-monitor configuration, while sitting in the

middle of the array, you should be able to extend your left arm to

the far right and move it in an arc in front of you without touching the

screens. The screens should be 3 inches from your finger tips. This

distance will enable you to see all three screens with very little movement

your head. (If you are constantly moving your head from side to

side, in less than an hour you will develop a neckache and possibly a

headache.) The three screens should be visible and well within your

peripheral vision. A simple yet effective way of correctly placing the

array is to sit at the desk where you are going to set up the three

screens and extend your arms to form a V shape. Looking straight

ahead, you should be able to see both of your hands.

3. Four-monitor array

Most likely, you will never need four monitors. It does, however,

give you a feeling of power and invincibility. Just remember, you can

lose money whether you trade with four monitors or one. If you are

going to use four monitors, do not stack them one on top of another

and do not arrange an array that forces you to tilt your head

upward. Place the monitors so that they are on eye level. Quite often, new traders will buy a large conference table and place all

four monitors in a line with themselves in the middle. This is fine;

however, most traders sit too close to the monitors. To see all four

monitors, they have to swing their heads from right to left all

through the trading day. If you use the four-monitor setup, sit back

far enough to enable you to see all of the monitors with very little

movement of your head.

Is Bigger Better? There is very little reason to purchase a 21-inch

monitor. The pure size and weight of the monitor makes it very cumbersome.

If you ever have to have it repaired, moving it could break

your back, and if that does not do it the repair bill will. It takes up so

much desk space that you have almost no work area. You may have

to move out so your 21-inch monitor will have a place to live. There

are cost-effective monitors on the market that give you a large visual

area and do not hog the work space on your desk. I suggest you look

at the ViewSonic PS 790 monitor. It is a nch monitor, but takes up

only the space of a 15-inch monitor. Always try to buy as much visual

real estate as you can without having it take over your desk.

As of yet, the flat-panel screens do not have the resolution or

dot pitch necessary to justify the cost. In at least one instance, the

repair costs on one flat-panel monitor were more than the price of a

17-inch monitor. In the future, the flat-panel or wall-mounted superscreens

will be the answer, but that is still a few years away. Now let

us consider other factors.

Other Factors When you are looking for monitors for your trading

array, you will want them to have the capability to achieve very high

resolutions. I suggest they have the ability to reach a screen resolution

of 1280 x 1024 or 1600 x 1200. Another factor is the dot pitch.

Dot pitch is responsible for the clear images. A dot pitch of 0.25 to

0.26 will give you superclear images. Your monitors should also

have the ability to reset to different refresh rates. Higher refresh

rates are better for your eyes. If, after the trading day, your eyes itch

and burn, more than likely it is because of your monitor's dot pitch

and low refresh rate. When it comes to your trading array, spend the

money necessary get the best monitors you can. You will probably spend from $350 to $550 for each monitor. Believe me, it is worth it

just to avoid itchy, burning eyes at the end of the trading day. As

with all trading equipment, remember to spend your money on

tools, not toys. Toys will cost a lot more in the long run. Figure 8.2

shows a photo of a three-monitor configuration.