Centralized computing: Difference between revisions

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{{See also|Centralisation}}

{{Refimprove |date=May 20242014}}

'''Centralized computing''' is computing done at a central ___location, using [[Computer terminal|terminals]] that are attached to a central computer. The computer itself may not control all the [[peripheral]]s directly (if they are physically connected to the central computer), or they may onlybe attached via a [[centralterminal computerserver]]. all termaninals must be conected to 5he central computerAlternatively, if the theyterminals have the capability, they may not be able to connect to the central computer over the network. The terminals may be [[text terminal]]s or [[thin client]]s, for example.

It offers greater [[security]] over [[centralDecentralized computing|decentralized systems]] because all of the [[Process (computing)|processing]] is controlled in a central ___location. In addition, if one terminal breaks down, the user can simply go to another terminal and [[log in]] again, and all of their [[computer file|file]]s will still be accessible. Depending on the system, they may even be able to resume their [[session (computer science)|session]] from the point they were at before, as if nothing had happened.

This type of arrangement does have some disadvantages. The central computer performs the computing functions and controls the remote terminals. This type of system relies totally on the central computer. Should the central computer [[crash (computing)|crash]], the entire system will "go down" (i.e. will be unavailable).

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== History ==

The very first computers did not have separate terminals as such; their primitive input/output devices were built in. However, soon it was found to be extremely useful for multiple people to be able to use a computer at the same time, for reasons of cost – early computers were very expensive, both to produce and maintain, and occupied large amounts of floor space. The idea of centralized computing was born. Early [[text terminal]]s used electro-mechanical [[teletypewriter]]s, but these were replaced by [[cathode ray tube]] displays (as found in 20th century televisions and computers). The text terminal model dominated computing from the 1960s, until the rise to dominance of [[home computer]]s and [[personal computer]]s in the 1980s.

== Contemporary status ==

As of 2007, centralized computing is now coming back into fashion – to a certain extent. Cloud computing has had an important role in the return of centralized computing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Irion|first=Kristina|date=December 2012|title=Government Cloud Computing and National Data Sovereignty|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/poi3.10|journal=Policy & Internet|volume=4|issue=3-4|pages=40–71|doi=10.1002/poi3.10|issn=1944-2866|url-access=subscription}}</ref> [[Thin client]]s have been used for many years by businesses to reduce [[total cost of ownership]], while [[web application]]s are becoming more popular because they can potentially be used on many types of computing device without any need for software installation. Already, however, there are signs that the pendulum is swinging back again, away from pure centralization, as [[thin client]] devices become more like [[diskless workstation]]s due to increased computing power, and web applications start to do more processing on the client side, with technologies such as [[AJAX]] and [[rich client]]s.

In addition, [[Mainframe computer|mainframe]]s are still being used for some mission-critical applications, such as payroll, or for processing day-to-day account transactions in banks. These mainframes will typically be accessed either using [[terminal emulator]]s (real terminal devices are not used much any more) or via modern front-ends such as [[web application]]s – or (in the case of automated access) [[Communications protocol|protocols]] such as [[web service]]s protocols.