videoterminaaleissa

Video terminals are display devices that present text, graphical elements, or video signals directly to a user without emulating a separate computer screen. In their early form, they were computer terminals driven by a central mainframe or host processor, common from the 1970s through the 1990s. These units, such as the DEC VT‑100 series or IBM 3270, combined a cathode ray tube or early LCD with input controls like keyboards and did not store data locally; all processing occurred on the host system. They displayed characters in a grid and could render simple graphics in block or character modes.

The conventional video terminal was distinguished from a local computer with a monitor by its reliance on host-based processing, network links (often serial or terminal server connections), and standardized protocols that enabled multiple terminals to share a single machine. Protocols such as ANSI escape sequences or proprietary command sets dictated cursor movement, color settings, and screen refresh patterns.

With the rise of personal computers and integrated displays, the classic video terminal fell out of everyday use. Modern applications of video terminal‑style interaction persist in industrial control panels, point‑of‑sale kiosks, and remote management consoles, where dedicated hardware provides reliability, low latency, and simplified input‑output interfaces. Digital signage systems also harness “video terminal” technology, displaying dynamic content on stand‑alone or networked display modules that receive instructions from central servers.

Understanding the fundamentals of video terminals remains useful for fields that require robust, low‑maintenance displays or for interfacing with legacy systems that still employ terminal emulation.