VESA ( /ˈveɪsə/; Video Electronics Standards Association) is an international standards body for computer graphics founded in 1989 by NEC Home Electronics and eight other video display adapter manufacturers.
VESA's initial goal was to produce a standard for 800×600 SVGA resolution video displays. Since then VESA has issued a number of standards, mostly relating to the function of video peripherals in personal computers.
In November 2010, VESA announced a cooperative agreement with the Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig) for sharing technology expertise and specifications to develop multi-gigabit wireless DisplayPort capabilities. DisplayPort is a VESA technology that provides digital display connectivity.
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VESA has been criticized for their policy of charging for published standards. VESA charges non-members for some, but not all, of their published standards. Some people believe the practice of charging for specifications has undermined the purpose of the VESA organization. According to Kendall Bennett, developer of the VBE/AF standard, the VESA Software Standards Committee was closed down due to a lack of interest resulting from charging high prices for specifications.[1] At that time no VESA standards were available for free. Although VESA now hosts some free standards documents, the free collection does not include newly developed standards. Even for obsolete standards, the free collection is incomplete. As of 2010, current standards documents from VESA cost hundreds, or thousands, of dollars each. Some older standards are not available for free, or for purchase.[2] As of 2010, the free downloads require mandatory registration.[3] While not all standards bodies provide specifications freely available for download, many do, including: ITU, JEDEC, DVI, and HDMI (through HDMI 1.3a).
At the time DisplayPort was announced, VESA was criticized for developing the specification in secret and having a track record of developing unsuccessful digital interface standards, including Plug & Display and DFP.[4]