Enhancing the HP e3000 User Interface

Appendix B: Enhanced Terminal Emulators
AICS QC Term—The Next Generation Terminal
Emulator
Simplicity and Instant Compatibility
The oldest and most common interface to an HP e3000 is a standard HP terminal. The terminal
interface has intrinsic advantages in that it is exceptionally efficient and easy to program. More
importantly, a terminal is automatically compatible with any programming language. COBOL
and BASIC are as readily useful in this environment as are Java or C++.
The rush to “webify” HP e3000 applications is being driven by the simplicity of use and brightly
colored attractiveness of a web browser’s interface. But there is nothing about the HTTP
protocol that makes OLTP programming simple; indeed, the very nature of HTTP’s statelessness
adds a great deal of programming complexity and inefficiency ñ as well as often substantially
increasing the number of points of failure.
As you will discover, it is far easier to bring extraordinary graphics capabilities to a terminal
than it is to convert a web browser into the equivalent of an OLTP terminal. QCTerm has three
modes of operation: as 1) a standard terminal emulator, 2) a standard terminal emulator with
graphical “wallpapers” drawn in the background, and 3) a fully graphical terminal.
The intention behind the design of QCTerm is to allow application developers to put together
exceptionally attractive, IMAGE-based applications with the greatest ease possible. A sampling
of applications that are possible are available at: aics-research.com/qcterm/demo.html
The Free Use & Distribution of QCTerm
QCTerm is a full-function HP 700/92 terminal emulator, competitive with other currently
available terminal emulators, the only difference being that QCTerm may be freely distributed to
as many users as you wish. QCTerm is made available to all HP e3000 users for their personal
and corporate use, without time limit or any form of obligation being incurred by any party.
QCTerm is the copyrighted property of AICS Research, Inc., PO Box 4691, University Park,
NM 88003, USA. The sale of QCTerm by any party other than AICS Research is strictly
prohibited. QCTerm is a gift to the HP e3000 community.
Contact Information:
Wirt Atmar
(800) AICS-INC
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
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