Microprocessors in CRT terminals

In late 1971, with Intel's announcement of the first processor on a chip, the staff at Beehive Medical Electronics began almost immediately to consider the advantages of using a microprocessor in a CRT terminal. Discussions evolved to serious definition of a new terminal design incorporating the following features: • Self test (as minicomputers do) • Standard hardware (capable of being customized by software changes only) • Simple implementation of polling protocols • Less random logic design • Stand-alone editing and computing capabilities