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Dictionary of Computers - viewdata
viewdata
System of displaying information on a television screen in which the information is extracted from a computer data bank and transmitted via the telephone lines. It is one form of videotext. British Telecom (then part of the General Post Office) developed the first viewdata system, Prestel, 1975–79. Similar systems are used in other countries. Users have access to a large store of information, presented on the screen in the form of ‘pages’.
Since viewdata uses telephone lines, it can become a two-way interactive information system, making possible, for example, home banking and shopping. In contrast, the only user input allowed by the teletext system is to select the information to be displayed.
However, viewdata systems have generally not been successful (the notable exception is France's Minitel) and interest has switched to the World Wide Web.
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Netherlands, The Flag
The number of stripes changed frequently until around 1800. Red, white, and blue became the colours of liberty and an inspiration for other revolutionary flags around the world. Effective date: 19 February 1937.
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