It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Data terminal. (Discuss)

A dumb terminal in computing refers to a computer terminal that has limited functionality relative to other types of "smart" computer terminals. The specific meaning of the term can vary a bit depending on the context in which it is used. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that dumb terminal be merged into this article or section. ... Originally, the word computing was synonymous with counting and calculating, and a science and technology that deals with the original sense of computing mathematical calculations. ... A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Thin client. ...

In the context of traditional computer terminals that communicate over a serial RS-232 connection, dumb terminals are those that do not have the ability to process special escape sequences that perform functions such as clearing a line, clearing the screen, or control cursor position. In this context dumb terminals are sometimes dubbed glass teletypes, for they essentially have the same limited functionality as does a teletype. This type of dumb terminal is still supported on modern Unix-like systems by setting the environment variable TERM to dumb. Smart or intelligent terminals are those that have the ability to process the special escape sequences. RS-232 (also referred to as EIA RS-232C or V.24) is a standard for serial binary data interchange between a DTE (Data terminal equipment) and a DCE (Data communication equipment). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A typical arrow-like mouse cursor. ... Teletype machines in World War II A teleprinter (teletypewriter, teletype or TTY for TeleTYpe/TeleTYpewriter) is a now largely obsolete electro-mechanical typewriter which can be used to communicate typed messages from point to point through a simple electrical communications channel, often just a pair of wires. ... Diagram of the relationships between several Unix-like systems A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification. ... Environment variables are a set of dynamic values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer. ...

In the broader context that includes all forms of keyboard/screen computer communication devices, including personal computers, diskless workstations, network computers, thin clients, and X Terminals, the term dumb terminal is sometimes used to refer to any type of traditional computer terminal that communicates serially over a RS-232 connection. A Diskless workstation is a personal computer without any means of non-volatile storage (hence diskless). Not to be confused with Dumb Terminals or cut-down PCs acting as Remote Terminals, a Diskless Workstation is intended to run in a fully stand-alone mode after the initial boot phase. ... A network computer is a lightweight computer system that operates exclusively via a network connection. ... Photo of a modern thin client. ... xterm is the standard terminal emulator for the X Window System. ... RS-232 (also referred to as EIA RS-232C or V.24) is a standard for serial binary data interchange between a DTE (Data terminal equipment) and a DCE (Data communication equipment). ...

The term dumb terminal can also refer to public computer terminals that are limited to monochrome text-only capabilities.

See also

• Blit (computer terminal)
• Computer terminal
• Green screen
• Minitel
• Terminal server
• Thin client
• TV Typewriter, a very simple home-brew dumb terminal, that were used with early home computers
• Apple 1, a very early home computer with a built-in dumb terminal

In computing, the Blit was a programmable bitmap graphics terminal designed by Rob Pike and Bart Locanthi of Bell Labs in 1983. ... A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system. ... The IBM PC with green screen Green screen was the common name for a monochrome CRT computer display using a green P1 phosphor screen. ... Minitel 1. ... Historically, a terminal server was a device that attaches to serial RS-232 devices, such as green screen VT terminals or serial printers, and transports this traffic via TCP/IP TELNET, SSH or other vendor-specific protocol (i. ... Photo of a modern thin client. ... The TV Typewriter (TVT) was an early computer kit, introduced by Don Lancaster in 1973. ... The Apple I was an early personal computer. ...

External links

• Video Terminal Information by Richard S. Shuford
• Symbio Technologies
• Terminal virus simulator - a demo that simulates a virus on dumb terminals (eye candy). Runable on IBM-PC compatible or GP2X via DOSBox.