Monitors Brief History of Monitor For PC

Introduction

This report is a brief history of the invention and development of the computer monitor for PC and its evolution over the years.

The computer monitor for personal computers (PC) is one of the most important components in the PC system. It is the visual display device that accompanies the “brains” of the PC. It is the monitor that displays the information and provides a visual interface for the user.

Ancient Monitors

The history of computer monitors for PCs can be traced back to the early 1970s. In the early days of the computer industry, most computers were built with a front panel that was made from wood, glass, and switches. The switches were used to control the functions of the computer.

Computers were made for a variety of purposes. Some were used to calculate missile trajectories for the military. Others were used to calculate workers’ salaries. And still others were used to store and retrieve data. Back then, all of these computers were stored in a special room called a computer center. In the computer center, there were rows and rows of computers that stood side by side. These computers were very costly and very valuable.

The information was stored on punched cards.

A punched card is a rectangular piece of paper that has 80 columns and 25 rows of rectangular holes. This punched card is fed into a computer through a card reader. The card reader reads the information on the card.

The information is then sent to the CPU. Inside the CPU, the information is stored and manipulated by the CPU. The CPU then sends the results through a cable to a printer or a monitor.

The monitor displays the information in the form of alphanumeric characters. The monitor is an alphanumeric display with a power supply unit and a cathode ray tube (CRT).

The monitor remained basically the same for decades. However, as technology advanced, the monitors themselves changed. The cathode ray tube was replaced by the LCD. And the CRT was replaced by the thin film transistor (TFT). But the way the monitor worked didn’t change. The monitor still serves the same purpose: to display the information in the form of alphanumeric characters.

Today, the monitor is an integral part of the PC. The monitor is a visual display device that provides a visual interface for the user. The monitor has also become one of the most overlooked and least talked about parts of the PC. Even though the monitor plays a vital role in the overall performance of the PC, it is often taken for granted.

The Birth of the Commercial Monitors

The first commercial monitors for PCs were introduced in the 1970s. In the early 1970s, computers were very large and expensive, and thus were only used in specialized settings.

And because of this, there was a need to develop a smaller, less expensive computer for general commercial use.

It was then that Intel Corporation introduced the first microprocessor. Intel Corporation manufactured a computer that was small enough to fit in a desk.

Since the computer was so small, a smaller monitor was also needed. Thus, the first commercial monitors were manufactured. These monitors were designed to be small enough to fit in desks.

The first commercially available monitor for PC was the IBM 5151. It was produced by IBM in 1976. It was an alphanumeric display with a power supply unit and a cathode ray tube (CRT).

The display was 16 characters wide by 24 characters tall. The size of the display was 14 inches. The monitor was designed to be used with the IBM 5100 Portable Computer. The 5151 monitor had a frequency response of 100–1000kHz, a maximum power output of 35 watts, a brightness level of 1800 candela, and a contrast ratio of 1:1.

The 5151 monitor also had a maximum resolution of 720 x 400 pixels. Its brightness level and contrast ratio were considered to be very good for its time. The monitor also had built-in video circuitry that used an NTSC or an EIA Color Encoding scheme. The monitor was able to display any character in the ASCII Code. For a monitor, it was very advanced.

Because the monitor was so small, it was more susceptible to damage. As a result, monitors for PC were frequently damaged. The monitor also had a limited viewing angle. If the user moved too far to the left or to the right, the monitor would become distorted. Thus, monitors for PC were very limited. However, the 5151 was the first monitor to be marketed for PC.

The IBM 5151 monitor was not the only monitor for PC in the 1970s. In 1977, Digital Equipment Corporation introduced a monitor called the VT52. The VT52 was an alphanumeric display with a power supply unit and a cathode ray tube (CRT).

The display was 10 characters wide by 14 characters tall. The size of the display was 10 inches. The VT52 monitor was designed to be used with the DECmate computer. The VT52 monitor had a frequency response of 75–1000kHz, a maximum power output of 35 watts, a brightness level of 1600 candela, and a contrast ratio of 1:1.

The VT52 monitor also had a maximum resolution of 720 x 400 pixels. Its brightness level and contrast ratio were considered to be very good for its time. The VT52 monitor had built-in video circuitry that used an NTSC or an EIA Color Encoding scheme. The monitor was able to display any character in the ASCII Code. The monitor could display 80 characters per line. For a monitor, it was very advanced.

Conclusion

This report has given a brief history of the invention and development of the computer monitor for personal computers (PC) and its evolution over the years.

Computers have become very small and compact. The monitor for the PC has also become small and compact. The monitor has become an integral part of the PC. The monitor is a visual display device that provides a visual interface for the user. The monitor has also become one of the most overlooked and least talked about parts of the PC. Even though the monitor plays a vital role in the overall performance of the PC, it is often taken for granted.