Host Connectivity News and Articles (9/27)
The business world is full of buzzwords but none seem to be gaining more traction in recent times than "cloud computing". But what exactly is cloud computing? There seem to be so many different definitions of what it entails that pinning down an exact definition is extremely difficult. In this article, we'll help demystify the concept of cloud computing by looking at how it is implemented in practical situations: what types of cloud services are being offered and who is using them? We'll also discuss how cloud computing is in many ways, an extension of the mainframe terminals of the 1970s, as well as the role that 3270 emulation and other emulators still play today.
Here we look at some of the most important events and inventions in the history of computing, from the humble abacus to mainframes, terminal emulation software, the internet and social media. It's a brief and information-packed timeline of computer history.
For decades now, many in the computing industry have been sounding the death knell of the mainframe. The emergence of cloud computing has been seen as a reason that mainframes won't survive much further into the 21st century. But just like email hasn't spelt the death of snail mail, cloud computing most certainly hasn't meant the death of the mainframe. Terminal emulation software continues to be made in order to access mainframes from modern computers. And so, in this article, we look at six reasons why the mainframe is here to stay.
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) refers to a type of system that uses radio waves to wirelessly transmit data. It falls into the same "automatic identification technology" category as the bar codes you'll find on supermarket products and the magnetic strips you'll find on the back of credit cards. Just like a bar code or magnetic strip needs to be scanned in order to get the required information, an RFID device must be scanned to retrieve information as well. With the help of terminal emulation software, RFID systems are able to access powerful host computers while "out in the field".