IBM 2250: Difference between revisions
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[[File:HypertextEditingSystemConsoleBrownUniv1969.jpg|thumb|220px| IBM 2250 Mod 4 display station, including lightpen and programmed function keyboard.]] |
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The '''IBM 2250 Graphics Display Unit''' was announced as part of [[System/360]] in [[1964]].<ref>{{cite book |
The '''IBM 2250 Graphics Display Unit''' was announced as part of [[System/360]] in [[1964]].<ref>{{cite book |
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Revision as of 01:02, 29 December 2011
The IBM 2250 Graphics Display Unit was announced as part of System/360 in 1964.[1] Unlike most modern computer displays, which show images in raster format, the IBM 2250 used vector graphics. A display list of line segments (vectors) on a 1024 by 1024 grid was stored in computer's memory or an optional buffer on 2250 and repainted on the 2250's CRT up to 40 times per second. The computer altered the display by changing the display list. As the display list got longer, the refresh time got longer too and eventually the display would start to flicker.
Characters were built of line segments specified by display list subroutines. Thus any character set or font could be displayed, although fonts were generally extremely simplified for performance reasons. An optional character-generator feature on all models provided predefined fonts of 63 characters to simplify display of alphanumeric information.
The 2250 was housed in a desk with an alphanumeric (QWERTY) keyboard and a separate programmed function keyboard which had keys, indicator lights and switches. A plastic overlay label could be placed over the function keyboard. Punches on the top edge of the overlay could be sensed by the computer so the keys, lights and switches could be reprogrammed simply by changing overlays. The 2250s CRT measured 21" diagonal, but the useful display area was 12 inch by 12 inch. A light pen was provided as a pointing device, serving the function of the modern computer mouse.
An IBM 2285 Display Copier could be attached to the 2250 to provide 8½ by 11 inch hard copy of the display contents under operator control.
An IBM 2280 Film Recorder or IBM 2282 Film Recorder/Scanner could be attached to a 2840 control unit providing for output or input/output to photographic negative.
There were four models of 2250:
- Model 1 - attached directly to a System/360 via a selector or multiplexor channel.
- Model 2 - attached via a 2840-1 control unit. A 2840 could attach up to four 2250s and provided buffering and a character generator.
- Model 3 - attached via a 2840-2 control unit.
- Model 4 - attached to an IBM 1130 minicomputer via the storage access channel (SAC). The 1130 could run either as a standalone processor or as a front-end processor connected to a remote System/360.
References
- ^ Pugh, Emerson W. IBM's 360 and Early 370 Systems. Cambridge, MA.: The MIT Press. p. 601. ISBN 0262161230.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External Links
- IBM System/360 Component Description IBM 2250 Display Unit Model 1 GA27-2701-3.
- IBM System/360 Component Description IBM 2250 Display Unit Model 2 IBM 2840 Display Control Model 1 GA27-2702-0.
- IBM System/360 Component Description IBM 2250 Display Unit Model 3 IBM 2840 Display Control Model 2 GA27-2721-0.
- IBM 1130 Computing System Component Description IBM 2250 Display Unit Model 4 A27-2723-0.