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'''Centralized computing''' is where the [[terminal]]s are attached to a central computer (a [[terminal server]]) that controls all the [[peripheral]]s. The terminals may be [[
It offers greater [[security]] over other [[system]]s because all of the [[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).
== 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 [[1960]]s until the rise to dominance of [[home computer]]s and [[personal computer]]s in the [[1980s]].
As of 2007, centralized computing is now coming back into fashion - to a certain extent. [[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.
== Hybrid model ==
Some organisations use a hybrid model halfway between centralized computing and conventional desktop computing, in which some applications (such as web browsers) are run locally, while other applications (such as critical business systems) are run on the [[terminal server]]. This can be achieved by running a piece of [[terminal server]] client software on a standard desktop computer.
[[Category:Centralized computing| ]]
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