Cost-effective techniques for minicomputer data entry and system status display

Describes the hardware and software design of two minicomputer peripheral devices which have been developed to provide keyboard data entry and system status monitor facilities at very low cost. For numeric data entry, a method is described by which popular mass- produced calculators based on an MOS LSI circuit can be interfaced to a computer, while their normal features are unimpaired. For system status display, a monitor is described which uses an alphanumeric plasma-panel operated in a continuously cycling mode, analogous to that of news agency annunciators, so that status messages of unrestricted length may be presented. (6 refs).