dumbterminals

A dumb terminal is a type of computer terminal that is used to send and receive data, but is incapable of processing that data. It relies on a remote computer to do all the processing. Dumb terminals typically consist of a keyboard and a display screen. They are also known as character terminals or serial terminals. The term "dumb" refers to the terminal's lack of processing power and its dependence on a host computer.

Dumb terminals were widely used in the early days of computing. They were a cost-effective way for multiple users to access a single mainframe computer. Users would connect to the mainframe via a serial cable, and the mainframe would handle all the processing and display of information on the dumb terminal. This allowed for shared computing resources and reduced the need for individual powerful machines.

Over time, the capabilities of terminals increased, leading to "smart terminals" which had some local processing power. Eventually, personal computers, with their own integrated processors, screens, and keyboards, largely replaced dedicated terminals for most tasks. However, the concept of a simple, unintelligent display device interacting with a powerful remote system still exists in various forms, such as thin clients and some industrial control interfaces. The simplicity of dumb terminals made them robust and easy to manage in their era.