DEC GT40
Encyclopedia
DEC GT40 is an VT11 vector graphic
terminal
produced by the Digital Equipment Corporation
, first introduced in October, 1972 (selling for “under $11,000”).
The DEC GT40 consists of:
Because the VT11 contained a PDP-11 class computer, the terminal could also serve as a computer in its own right, in fact, IEEE Computer wrote:
Vector graphics
Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon, which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics...
terminal
Computer terminal
A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system...
produced by the Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
, first introduced in October, 1972 (selling for “under $11,000”).
The DEC GT40 consists of:
- CPUCentral processing unitThe central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
: KD11-B (PDP-11PDP-11The PDP-11 was a series of 16-bit minicomputers sold by Digital Equipment Corporation from 1970 into the 1990s, one of a succession of products in the PDP series. The PDP-11 replaced the PDP-8 in many real-time applications, although both product lines lived in parallel for more than 10 years...
/05) - VT40 display processor, including bootstrap ROM (same modules as VT11, but instead of the four-slot backplane, this has a nine-slot backplane to include the CPU and memory)
- MM11-L 8K word core memory (MM11-K 4K word core memory on GT40-Bx models)
- DL11-E asynchronous line interface
- LK40 keyboardKeyboard (computing)In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
- VR14-LC X-Y monitor (or -LD for 230V)
- 375 light penLight penA light pen is a computer input device in the form of a light-sensitive wand used in conjunction with a computer's CRT TV set or monitor. It allows the user to point to displayed objects, or draw on the screen, in a similar way to a touch screen but with greater positional accuracy...
Because the VT11 contained a PDP-11 class computer, the terminal could also serve as a computer in its own right, in fact, IEEE Computer wrote:
The GT40 may be used either as a stand-alone graphics system or as a remote terminal interacting with various types of host computers. John Mucci, marketing manager for the DEC graphic-11 group, sees the GT40 being particularly useful in the areas of graphic research, design, engineering, architecture business information systems and many other uses needing a fast, low-cost graphics display.
In a stand-alone configuration, the PDP-11/10 within the terminal can be expanded with additional memory and any PDP-11 family peripheral to build as complex a system as necessary. “In fact, the central processor used in the GT-40 can be any PDP-11 family processor,” says Mucci, ”since the display processor is interfaced via the PDP-11's Unibus.”
See also
- Lunar Lander
- VectrexVectrexThe Vectrex is a vector display-based video game console that was developed by Western Technologies/Smith Engineering. It was licensed and distributed first by General Consumer Electric , and then by Milton Bradley Company after their purchase of GCE...
- PDP-11PDP-11The PDP-11 was a series of 16-bit minicomputers sold by Digital Equipment Corporation from 1970 into the 1990s, one of a succession of products in the PDP series. The PDP-11 replaced the PDP-8 in many real-time applications, although both product lines lived in parallel for more than 10 years...