PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operation)#

Introduction#

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) was the first generalized computer-assisted instruction system. Starting in 1960, it ran on the University of Illinois' ILLIAC I computer. By the late 1970s, it supported several thousand graphics terminals distributed worldwide, running on nearly a dozen different networked mainframe computers. Many modern concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO, including forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages, instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multiplayer video games.

ROM image#

PlatoTerm#

by Thomas ‘Thom‘ Cherryhomes (tschak909)

Terminal software for access to the PLATO system. Availabe for: for Atari 8 Bit and PC, Mac, Linux.
For up to date software, please see Thom's IRATA online site:

To connect to IRATA.ONLINE, use the following connection information:
Host: IRATA.ONLINE
Port: 8005 (ASCII Protocol)

Manuals#

PLATO-Servers:#

Movies#

Hardware#

References#

Presentations#

Pictures#

PlatoTerm box 1 created by Steve "Mr. Robot" Boswell. Incredible work Steve, your art is outstanding and stand by excellent. Please go ahead, we really love your work!

PlatoTerm box 2 created by Steve "Mr. Robot" Boswell. Incredible work Steve, your art is outstanding and stand by excellent. Please go ahead, we really love your work!

PLATO cartridge label created by Steve "Mr. Robot" Boswell. Incredible work Steve, your art is outstanding and stand by excellent. Please go ahead, we really love your work!

PLATO Educational Courseware ad from Control Data from 1983

PLATO terminal emulation of different computers parallel running on just one computer

PLATO terminal emulation on original Atari hardware connected to Cyber1

Adapter for the Atari 850 interface needed to run PLATO on original Atari hardware with connection to modern routers

PLATO terminal commands

PLATO terminal connected to Cyber1

Game Berzerk on a PLATO terminal

Cyberserv.org - Command Mode

Introduction to FORTRAN arithmetic on PLATO

Games on PLATO

Graphics on PLATO

IRATA.ONLINE - Main Menu with Atari logo

IRATA.ONLINE - established successful connection

Battleships on PLATO

Checkers on PLATO

Normal text on PLATO

Example for the Tutor language to create sites for PLATO

Einleitung#

PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operation) war eines der ersten computerunterstützten Lehr- bzw. Lernsysteme.
In den frühen 1960er Jahren wurde das Projekt an der Universität von Illinois gestartet und über Jahrzehnte weiterentwickelt und ausgebaut. Das Ziel bestand darin, Studierende unabhängig voneinander und gleichzeitig mit verschiedenen Lehr- und Lernstoffen zu unterrichten. Im Grunde war PLATO eine Lernplattform, die ihren Nutzern im Laufe der Zeit immer mehr Funktionen zur Verfügung stellte. Zu Beginn verfügte das PLATO-System lediglich über ein Terminal. In den späten 1970er Jahren umfasste PLATO bereits mehrere tausend Grafikterminals, die weltweit verteilt auf fast einem Dutzend verschiedener vernetzter Großrechner liefen. Viele moderne Konzepte des heutigen Multi-User-Computing wurden auf PLATO entwickelt und realisiert, darunter Foren, Message Boards, Onlinetests, E-Mail, Chaträume, Bildsprachen, Instant Messaging, Remote-Screen-Sharing und Multiplayer-Spiele.