I.GENERAL DESCRIPTION
PLATOTERM is a cartridge which provides the software necessary to
send and receive data to PLATO services located on remote comput-
ers, connected via the Internet. To connect the ATARI® computer to
the Internet, an Internet MODEM is required, which simultaneously
connects the ATARI® to the Internet, and appears to the ATARI® like
a MODEM. A wide variety of devices can be used to perform this
function, and the chapter on MODEM set-up will provide examples
of what can be used, and how to connect it all together.
PLATO services provide not only textual information, but also graph-
ical information, and the ability to point and click on textual and
graphical elements on-screen. PLATOTERM interprets the informa-
tion received from the MODEM and presents it on your ATARI®
screen, while simultaneously gathering any and all input from your
ATARI® keyboard and pointing device; sending it back to the PLATO
system for further processing and interaction.
In addition to the ATARI® keyboard, you may also use a joystick,
touch tablet, TRAK-Ball, or mouse to act as a pointer device. When
you receive a copy of PLATOTERM, the desired touch device is pre-
programmed into the ROM inside your cartridge.
PLATOTERM supports any serial device that provides an "R:" to the
operating system. This includes the ATARI® 850™, ICD® P:R: Con-
nection™, and R-Verter interface. To facilitate this, the cartridge will
load any disk operating system from the first disk drive, allowing any
"R:" handler desired to be loaded.
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