AlphaWindows was a proposed industry standard from the Display Industry Association (an industry consortium in California) in the early 1990s that would allow a single CRT screen to implement multiple windows, each of which was to behave as a distinct computer terminal.[1][2] Individual vendors offered products based on this in 1992 through the end of the 1990s.[3][4][5]
These products were targeted at a low-end market.
The initial concept relied on custom (but low-cost) terminals which would support mouse interaction, (text) windowing support, and colored text.[3] With that, plus special host software, the vendors proposed to support semi-graphical applications "transparently".
The Display Industry Association was at the same location as Cumulus Technology (the same street address in Palo Alto, CA).[1][6] Cumulus was a manufacturer of displays since 1986.[7][8] Cumulus was heavily involved with development of the AlphaWindows standard. The members of the association in 1993 were:[1]
Only Cumulus was proposing both to develop the terminals and the host software. However, Cumulus did not survive: it went bankrupt.[8][9][10]
SoftwareEdit
JSB Software Technologies produced MultiView Mascot. As noted in Unix Review:[11]
MultiView Mascot helps users access graphical applications, such as Web sites and e-mail systems, from a character-based browser. It does so by mapping graphical applications to a multiwindowed character system. Although there is the inevitable loss of graphics and formatting, the result is surprisingly workable. A hot-key feature allows any old character terminal to offer switching between multiple applications at the same time, with no programming required.
As of 2007[update], the product is owned by FutureSoft.[12][13]
SSSI (Structured Software Solutions, Inc.) produced the FacetTerm session multiplexer.[14]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcRichard Shuford (ed.). . Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
^Information Technology Standards Guidance — User Interface Services. Vol. 3 of 14. U. S. Department of Defense. April 7, 1997.
^ ab"First AlphaWindows Character-Based Terminals Set For To Appear in May, At From $600..." CBRonline.com. 1992-02-14.
^New Products (July–August 1992). . Sys Admin Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
^ ab"Microvitec First Past Post in Europe with AlphaWindows Terminals; IBM OEM Pact in Prospect..." CBRonline.com. 1992-08-12.
alphawindows, proposed, industry, standard, from, display, industry, association, industry, consortium, california, early, 1990s, that, would, allow, single, screen, implement, multiple, windows, each, which, behave, distinct, computer, terminal, individual, v. AlphaWindows was a proposed industry standard from the Display Industry Association an industry consortium in California in the early 1990s that would allow a single CRT screen to implement multiple windows each of which was to behave as a distinct computer terminal 1 2 Individual vendors offered products based on this in 1992 through the end of the 1990s 3 4 5 These products were targeted at a low end market The initial concept relied on custom but low cost terminals which would support mouse interaction text windowing support and colored text 3 With that plus special host software the vendors proposed to support semi graphical applications transparently Contents 1 Organization 2 Software 3 References 4 See alsoOrganization EditThe Display Industry Association was at the same location as Cumulus Technology the same street address in Palo Alto CA 1 6 Cumulus was a manufacturer of displays since 1986 7 8 Cumulus was heavily involved with development of the AlphaWindows standard The members of the association in 1993 were 1 Terminal vendorsAT amp T NCR ADDS partnership Cumulus DEC Link Wyse partnership Microvitec 5 Siemens Nixdorf partnership TeleVideoSoftware vendorsCumulus JSB Nutec SSSIOnly Cumulus was proposing both to develop the terminals and the host software However Cumulus did not survive it went bankrupt 8 9 10 Software EditJSB Software Technologies produced MultiView Mascot As noted in Unix Review 11 MultiView Mascot helps users access graphical applications such as Web sites and e mail systems from a character based browser It does so by mapping graphical applications to a multiwindowed character system Although there is the inevitable loss of graphics and formatting the result is surprisingly workable A hot key feature allows any old character terminal to offer switching between multiple applications at the same time with no programming required As of 2007 update the product is owned by FutureSoft 12 13 SSSI Structured Software Solutions Inc produced the FacetTerm session multiplexer 14 References Edit a b c Richard Shuford ed Alphawindows a windowing setup for character cell video terminals Archived from the original on 2008 10 07 Retrieved 2007 09 22 Information Technology Standards Guidance User Interface Services Vol 3 of 14 U S Department of Defense April 7 1997 a b First AlphaWindows Character Based Terminals Set For To Appear in May At From 600 CBRonline com 1992 02 14 New Products July August 1992 Cumulus Technology Announces Support for New AlphaWindow Standard Sys Admin Magazine Archived from the original on 2011 07 23 Retrieved 2007 09 22 a b Microvitec First Past Post in Europe with AlphaWindows Terminals IBM OEM Pact in Prospect CBRonline com 1992 08 12 Brad Myers March 1995 User Interface Software Tools Cumulus Technology Wins Contract from Unisys CBRonline com 1988 01 18 a b Company Summary Cumulus Technology Ltd March 1994 David Kallman 1997 05 21 Did Cumulus drop off the face of the earth again HP3000 L mailing list comment Henry Keultjes 2005 05 04 Small Box To End Digital Divide InterLUG mailing list comment Tim Parker March 1999 MultiView v 4 Breathing new life into old character based UNIX applications is easier with MultiView Unix Review JSB reports record revenues increase E consultancy 2000 07 05 permanent dead link SurfControl sells off MultiView E consultancy 2001 02 19 permanent dead link Structured Software Solutions Inc Again Named to Fast Tech 50 FacetCorp May 1996 Archived from the original on 2008 05 11 Retrieved 2007 09 28 See also EditX terminal Twin This computer engineering related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AlphaWindows amp oldid 1067505200, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
