Why do I use two Monitors on my desktop?

Extended screens for trial and presentations are easy to understand.  Yet, some people can't understand their benefit when placed on a desk.  In my mind, the simple answer is convenience.  I'm a digital litigator.  In other words, I rarely have a physical file in my office.  Everything is scanned.  Therefore, I can review the documents, photos, MRIs, etc.. on the right screen and make notations on the left.  I can bill time on the right screen while answering e-mails on the left.  I can research the law on the right while writing the brief on the left.

Best of all, I can practice my litigation programs without setting up the in-court display.  I can practice on trial director/power point and see what the jury will see versus what my litigation screen will show. Now, this provides yet another great possibility.  The practice and record method of presentation.  With the dual screens, you can operate Camtasia or a video-screen-capture program and record the product.  This is great when you know what it is you want to show to the jury.  The video then can be embedded into power point as a video.  Using trial director in this form allows for precision in front of a jury.  There is no risk of clicking the wrong this or having the wrong document called out.  The video of your demonstration is set.  This works ONLY when the information is in a set order.  The benefit of trial director and trial presentation software is its fluidity.  Its ability to change on a moments notice.  But, when you know that something is going to move forward in a slide-by-slide style.  Then its perfect.

Now, I prefer the second monitor to also be a touchscreen.  This allows for a more accurate practice field, since I use a touch screen display in the courtroom.  Also, this will allow me to sign the digital documents and save a couple trees.

Another interesting use of the dual screens, plus the recording of the presentation preview of trial director, is the ability to make videos of the screen and add them into a settlement DVD.

If you don't believe me... Check out an article written in 2006... Yes, 2006.  By the New York Times.http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/technology/20basics.html?ei=5090&en=6fc17b9bf54ea2ef&ex=1303185600&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1312291144-qcDzegpNrP4UfYBsdVoOhw