# Blit

> graphical terminal

**Wikidata**: [Q4926924](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4926924)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blit_(computer_terminal))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blit

## Summary
The Blit is a graphical terminal developed by Bell Labs with an inception date of 1982. It is categorized as a type of computer terminal capable of rendering graphics in addition to text-only displays.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** 1982
- **Manufacturer:** Bell Labs
- **Classification:** Instance of a graphical terminal
- **Parent Class:** Computer terminal
- **Wikipedia Title:** Blit (computer terminal)
- **Wikidata Description:** Graphical terminal
- **Freebase ID:** /m/052j9w
- **Sitelink Count:** 6
- **Available Languages:** English (en), Spanish (es), Japanese (ja), Norwegian (no), Portuguese (pt), Russian (ru)

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactured the Blit terminal?
A: The Blit was manufactured by Bell Labs.

### Q: When was the Blit introduced?
A: The Blit has a recorded inception year of 1982.

### Q: What type of device is the Blit?
A: The Blit is a graphical terminal, which is a subclass of computer terminal that includes graphics capability in addition to or instead of text-only displays.

### Q: How is the Blit documented in knowledge bases?
A: It is documented with a Freebase ID of /m/052j9w and has sitelinks across six different language versions of Wikipedia (en, es, ja, no, pt, ru).

## Why It Matters
The Blit serves as a historical example of the evolution from text-based computing to graphical interfaces. As a graphical terminal manufactured by Bell Labs in the early 1980s, it represents the era where dedicated hardware was required to visualize data beyond simple character grids. By functioning as a graphical terminal, the Blit allowed users to interact with computers using visual elements like plots and drawings, a capability that was critical for technical and engineering work before the standardization of modern graphical workstations.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct example of a graphical terminal manufactured by Bell Labs.
- Originating in 1982, placing it within the early history of graphical display technology.
- Serving as a concrete instance of the "graphical terminal" class, alongside other historical models like the Tektronix 4010 and IBM 2250.

## Body

### Definition and Classification
The Blit is an electronic device classified as a **graphical terminal**. It falls under the broader parent class of **computer terminal**, which is defined as an input/output device used for entering data into and displaying data from a computer or computing system.

As a graphical terminal, the Blit is distinguished from text-only terminals by its ability to include graphics capability in addition to, or instead of, simple character displays. This classification aligns it with other notable hardware in the "Category:Graphical terminals."

### Manufacturer and Origins
The Blit was manufactured by **Bell Labs**. Its inception is recorded as **1982**. This timeframe places the device in a period where graphical capabilities were being integrated into terminal hardware to support more complex visualization and interaction with host computing systems.

### Technical Context
While specific technical specifications for the Blit are not detailed in the source beyond its classification, its categorization as a graphical terminal implies it functioned similarly to other devices in this class. Graphical terminals typically render images, drawings, or graphical user interfaces for a connected computer. The Blit is cited as a specific example of this technology, which allows for the display of visual information such as vector graphics or combined text-and-graphics layouts, distinct from the line-based text output of earlier console eras.

### Knowledge Graph and Identifiers
The Blit is indexed across multiple knowledge bases and language domains, reflecting its recognition as a distinct entity in computing history.

*   **Wikipedia:** The entity has a dedicated article titled "Blit (computer terminal)." It maintains a sitelink count of 6, corresponding to its availability in six languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Russian.
*   **Structured Data:**
    *   **Wikidata Description:** "graphical terminal"
    *   **Freebase ID:** /m/052j9w (Reference: publication date 2013-10-28)

### Related Entities
The Blit is contextually related to other historical graphical terminals, which help define the scope of its class. These related models include:
*   **Tektronix 4010:** Text and graphics terminals.
*   **Tektronix 4105:** Computer video terminal.
*   **IBM 2250:** Vector graphics display system.
*   **IBM 3179G:** Mainframe terminal with character and graphics modes.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013