Computer terminals allow input into a larger system and can be monitors, handheld devices, or dedicated devices. Dumb terminals have no processing power and rely on a central computer, while intelligent terminals have some processing power. Handheld terminals are used in industries that require mobility. Other types include networked and transaction terminals.
Computer terminals have the seemingly simple function of allowing input into a larger computer system and potentially receiving information from it. One of the more common types of computer terminal is a monitor and keyboard setup connected to a larger computer via a network interface. Other types of computer terminals include handheld terminals and dedicated devices such as credit card reader terminals and point-of-sale terminals. With the proliferation of inexpensive computer hardware, fully functional computer systems can be employed as terminals using terminal emulation software to access the larger mainframe computer.
The simplest of computer terminals is called a dumb terminal. This can be something as simple as a monitor and keyboard connected directly to a network router, or it can be a computer with a real networked tower unit in an office. The reason the terminal is considered dumb is because it has almost no processing power of its own and instead sends and receives signals from a larger central computer which does all the processing. Dumb terminals are both cheap and secure because they cannot save information to a local hard drive and must route all information and requests through the main computer system.
Above the dumb terminals are intelligent computer terminals. These are actually working computers or laptops that have the basic components of a standard personal computer, including a hard drive, memory, and ports for peripherals. These terminals are networked to a central computer system and can operate in two modes. They can run custom client software to interface with the mainframe, or they can use terminal emulation software to simulate a dumb terminal in a dedicated window. An intelligent computer terminal has the advantage of allowing some processing tasks to be performed by the local processor instead of relying solely on the mainframe for all actions.
Handheld computer terminals are often employed in industries that require employees to move a lot or be in different locations throughout the day. These terminals can look like small computers with miniature keyboards and monochrome displays, or they can be customized to enter specific types of data more efficiently. Different types of handheld computer terminals are widely used in surveying, manufacturing, financial trading and inventory control companies.
Other types of computer terminals can include computerized cash registers which are really just dumb terminals that have been customized to allow for faster input of specific information. Networked terminals are similar to intelligent computer terminals, except that all software running on them is taken from the mainframe, although the local computer actually runs the programs once it is retrieved. Finally, there are transaction terminals that perform functions such as reading credit cards or allowing access to a bank account; an automatic teller machine (ATM) is an example of this type.
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