The First Plasma-Display Product

摘要

As with any invention, it all started with a need. In this case it was the need for a high-quality display for computer-based education. The University of Illinois started a project in 1960 called PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) to conduct research on the use of computers for education.1 It was a pioneering project on a topic that now seems obvious. It was clear to the leaders of the PLATO project that a graphics display was a necessary component for computer education. However, in those days even a simple alphanumeric computer terminal was a real luxury. The common method for man-machine interface was the teletype and the punched tape.