Throughput is the capacity to handle network traffic. A measure for network data transfer performance.
The first computers could only perform one task at a time. Within a few years, computers were able to multitask and timeshare, which increased the computer’s productivity.
multitask A computer’s ability to work on more than one job at a time. The processor can turn its attention from one job to another if one is held up waiting for input or output.
timesharing In the early days of computers, the concept of running multiple jobs at the same time. The idea of switching the computer’s processing from one task to another and incorporating a main, or host, computer
Timesharing allowed for direct human/machine interaction through terminals.
Terminals used with timesharing computers were known as dumb terminals.
terminal A device with a keyboard and a monitor that connects directly to a mainframe through a communications link or cable. The terminal requests information from the mainframe computer.
dumb terminal Computers consisting of keyboards for input and screens for output. They are wired directly to the host computer and have little or no processing power of their own.