inquiry station

views updated

inquiry station Obsolete A terminal from which information can be retrieved from a database. Generally the terminal has a display and a keyboard, but there may also be ancillary devices such as a badge reader. The user makes the inquiry via the keyboard either in the form of a question in plain text or by indicating a selection from a menu on the display. The display will show a series of possible selections that successively narrow the field of search. An inquiry station may also update information as the result of an action arising from an inquiry. An airline booking terminal is an example of an inquiry station. See also interrogation.