computer science

Terminal concentrator

Terminal concentrator is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Terminal concentrator rather than just read about it. In short: Terminal concentrators, also known as terminal multiplexers, were hardware devices used to multiplex multiple serial terminals to a single hardware computer connection. Examples of terminal multiplexers were the IBM 3299 and the terminal multiplexers made by Gandalf Technologies.

Key takeaways

Terminal concentrator belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Terminal concentrator to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Terminal concentrator from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Terminal concentrators, also known as terminal multiplexers, were hardware devices used to multiplex multiple serial terminals to a single hardware computer connection. Examples of terminal multiplexers were the IBM 3299 and the terminal multiplexers made by Gandalf Technologies.

References

See also Concentrator Modem sharing device

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Terminal concentrator

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Terminal concentrator claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Terminal concentrator before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Terminal concentrator ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Terminal concentrator

In research: Terminal concentrator appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Terminal concentrator in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Terminal concentrator is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer terminals, Computing stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Terminal concentrator outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Terminal concentrator in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Terminal concentrator means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Terminal concentrator out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Terminal concentrator in simple terms?

Why does Terminal concentrator matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Terminal concentrator?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Terminal concentrator.