A dumb terminal is a computer that is connected to a larger machine over a network of servers. It is a device that has limited processing power and does not perform on-screen editing. These devices usually contain a keyboard and a monitor. The keyboard is used for data input and the monitor is used for display. Most dumb terminals have a limited display command set, which means that they are only capable of displaying text and not graphics.
In the 1970s, many companies started producing dumb terminals. This type of terminal was connected to a mainframe via a wire. They could send and receive information from the mainframe and would also allow users to access the mainframe remotely. While dumb terminals had limited functionality, they were popular for use in work environments that did not have a lot of graphic applications. Moreover, many organizations had only a few computers in relation to their users, so dumb terminals were a cost-effective option.
As technology improved, the dumb terminal gradually began to be replaced by smart terminals. Smarter terminals allowed for more complex screen designs, and were designed to process user input within the terminal. Some of these terminals even had their own processor. Besides a more powerful processor, a smart terminal could also include special features. For example, a smart terminal could process ANSI escape sequences, which could clear the screen or the line.
In the 1980s, personal computers started to appear, which offered more options. Dumb terminals could be emulated on them. However, most dumb terminals did not have the processing power needed to run programs. Moreover, dumb terminals could not process special escape sequences. Consequently, dumb terminals are now referred to as thin clients.
Although dumb terminals are still very common, smart terminals have become increasingly popular in recent years. In addition to processing user input, a smart terminal can also process ANSI escape sequences. Among the most common features of a smart terminal are local editing, which reduces the CPU load, and dynamic content, which displays a variety of information.
Many of the earlier dumb terminals were only compatible with the FreeBSD operating system. However, later dumb terminal models were also compatible with other operating systems. Several models can also connect to a telephone line through a modem. Furthermore, they can be configured to call into any number of other connected computers. Moreover, dumb terminals have better virus resistance, so they are easier to protect against virus attacks.
A dumb terminal is basically a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Its main functions are to accept data from a processor and to display what it has received. In the case of a dumb terminal, this means that it will only display what is sent from the CPU. To make it work, you need to install the correct software on the computer. If you want to enable a dumb terminal on a modern Unix-like system, you should change the environment variable TERM to dumb.