Can I use a computer display that only shows text?
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MellowCedar42
Does a display exist that is physically incapable of showing images, so it can only present letters, numbers, and other text characters? A text-only monitor would be an interesting way to use a computer without any graphical output.
Answers
Older options included teletype terminals and character-based displays. Modern USB alphanumeric displays also exist, but they are generally small status panels rather than full-size monitors.
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Yes, but usually not as a normal modern monitor. You could use a dedicated alphanumeric LCD, a segment display, or a split-flap-style display. Those are limited by their hardware to characters and simple symbols, so they cannot render regular images or video.
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A dumb terminal or text-only display can connect to a computer and show a command-line shell. The computer itself still supports graphics, but the attached display would only present text.
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You can get the same practical experience by opening a terminal and making it fullscreen on Windows, macOS, or Linux. That hides the desktop, although the system can still display images if you launch a graphical program.
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WittyLantern61: You definitely wouldn't need to install a different operating system just to fullscreen a terminal. All three major desktop systems can do that.