Before the VDU (Visual Display Unit) appeared on the scene MAXIMOP users would work at a teletype which looked
much like a large typewriter with the
addition of a mechanical paper tape reader/punch and provided Hard copy output
on a continuous paper roll - very handy for taking to the Advisory desk
(Help desk) to show
"what went wrong". MAXIMOP was programmed to send an occasional "chug" character to each
device to keep it from powering
down to standby mode while users thought about the next command.
The monochrome photograph is of Alister in 1968 working on a Teletype 33 with the colour photograph showing the follow up Teletype 43 in the 1970's.
The teletype room shown was previously used by the "punch girls"
for punched card data preparation etc. and converted again in the mid 1990's to the ITCS staff room.