terminal inventiveness (was Re: an odd question - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

16 Aug 2001

From: Stan Sieler &lt;sieler(a)allegro.com&gt;
To: Chuck McManis &lt;cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com&gt;om>; classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org

...
  So here are some specific questions that might be
interesting to answer:
...
           1) What was the first example of a TERMINAL
(See above)? 

In the late 60s I did use the H1000 (hazeltine) wich was glass tty.

...
           2) When was a processor (micro, bit-slice,
whatever) first
             DEDICATED to operating a terminal? 

That came in the mid 70s, later than some of the terminals that
could do #3.

...
           3) What is the first terminal that could
manipulate its own
             buffer memory in response to a "control" code? 

at least one example was the VT52, it had gotoxy and a few other
controls but was not uP based.

...
           4) What is the first terminal that could
display graphics and
             text? (either alternately or simultaneously) 

I beleve the TEK401x and even the tube in the PDP1 (vector graphics)
could do that.  Likely predates standalone tubes.  However the first
serious graphics tube I encountered as a text/standalone was VT100
with line drawing or VT125 with regis/sixel and VT100 text.

5) what was the first terminal to have memory "above" the screen?
   (I.e., some number of lines could scroll off the top, but could still
   be scrolled back later)
   (Probably HP 2640A)

This was implemented on the SWTP CT1024 many others did it.

6) what was first terminal with user-installable option cards?
   (Probably HP 2640A)

H1500, Vt100, CT1024 and others.

Allison