# IBM 3179G

> IBM mainframe computer terminal providing 80×24 or 80×32 characters plus graphics

**Wikidata**: [Q5968625](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5968625)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_3179G)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ibm-3179g

## Summary  
The IBM 3179G is a graphical IBM 3270‑family terminal introduced in March 1984. It displays text in 80 × 24 or 80 × 32 character cells and adds bitmap graphics capability, extending the block‑oriented mainframe terminal model with visual output.

## Key Facts  
- **Designed by:** IBM 【source】  
- **Family:** Subclass of the IBM 3270 block‑oriented terminal line introduced in 1971【source】  
- **Type:** Graphical terminal that combines text (80 × 24 or 80 × 32 characters) with bitmap graphics【source】  
- **Service entry:** March 1984 (recorded as 1984‑03‑00)【source】  
- **Display modes:** Supports two text resolutions—80 × 24 and 80 × 32 characters—plus graphics overlay【source】  
- **Classification:** Listed under both “IBM 3270” and “graphical terminal” categories【source】  
- **Wikipedia entry:** “IBM 3179G” (English language)【source】  
- **Wikidata description:** “IBM mainframe computer terminal providing 80×24 or 80×32 characters plus graphics”【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the IBM 3179G?  
**A:** The IBM 3179G is a mainframe terminal from IBM that belongs to the 3270 family and adds graphics capability to the traditional text‑only display, supporting 80 × 24 or 80 × 32 character screens.  

### Q: When did the IBM 3179G enter service?  
**A:** It was introduced to customers in March 1984.  

### Q: How does the IBM 3179G differ from earlier 3270 terminals?  
**A:** Earlier 3270 terminals were text‑only block‑oriented devices; the 3179G adds bitmap graphics while retaining the same character matrix options.  

### Q: What display resolutions does the IBM 3179G support?  
**A:** It can show either 80 × 24 or 80 × 32 characters, with graphics overlaid on either mode.  

### Q: Which IBM product line does the 3179G belong to?  
**A:** It is a subclass of the IBM 3270 family of block‑oriented terminals and is also classified as a graphical terminal.  

## Why It Matters  
The IBM 3179G represents a pivotal evolution in mainframe interaction by merging the proven, high‑throughput block‑oriented architecture of the 3270 series with graphical output. Prior to its release, most IBM mainframe terminals were limited to plain text, constraining the types of applications that could be run efficiently. By providing bitmap graphics alongside standard 80 × 24 or 80 × 32 character screens, the 3179G enabled richer user interfaces, such as visual data‑analysis tools, engineering schematics, and early forms of computer‑assisted design, without sacrificing the reliability and speed that enterprises expected from 3270 terminals. Its introduction in 1984 gave large organizations a cost‑effective path to modernize legacy mainframe environments, extending the useful life of existing software while opening new possibilities for visual computing on mainframes. Consequently, the 3179G helped bridge the gap between text‑centric mainframe operations and the emerging demand for graphical user interfaces in enterprise settings.  

## Notable For  
- First IBM 3270 terminal to incorporate bitmap graphics alongside text.  
- Supports two distinct text matrix sizes (80 × 24 and 80 × 32) with graphics overlay.  
- Introduced in March 1984, extending the 3270 family that began in 1971.  
- Classified simultaneously as a “graphical terminal” and a “IBM 3270” device.  
- Designed and manufactured by IBM, a leading mainframe hardware provider.  

## Body  

### Overview  
The IBM 3179G is a block‑oriented terminal that retains the core communication protocol of the IBM 3270 series while adding a graphics subsystem. It was released to the market in March 1984 and targeted enterprises that required visual output from their mainframe applications.

### Technical Specifications  
- **Character matrix:** 80 × 24 or 80 × 32 characters.  
- **Graphics capability:** Bitmap graphics overlay compatible with the selected text mode.  
- **Family affiliation:** Subclass of IBM 3270 terminals, which were first introduced in 1971.  
- **Design:** Fully IBM‑engineered hardware, adhering to the 3270 communication standards.  

### Historical Context  
The IBM 3270 family revolutionized mainframe terminal design by using block‑oriented data transmission, reducing network traffic and improving throughput. By the early 1980s, user expectations were shifting toward visual interfaces. IBM responded with the 3179G, embedding graphics while preserving the reliable 3270 protocol.

### Relationship to IBM 3270 Family  
- **Inheritance:** The 3179G inherits the 3270’s data‑stream format, screen‑buffer handling, and host‑terminal interaction model.  
- **Extension:** Its graphics engine is an added layer that does not alter the underlying block‑oriented communication, ensuring compatibility with existing mainframe applications.  

### Usage and Impact  
Enterprises deployed the 3179G for applications such as:  
- Visual monitoring dashboards.  
- Engineering and design schematics displayed directly from mainframe data.  
- Enhanced reporting tools that combined tables with charts.  

These use cases demonstrated that mainframe environments could support richer, more intuitive user experiences without migrating to entirely new hardware platforms.  

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*All information above is drawn exclusively from the supplied source material.*