videotex

Any of various systems in which information (text) is displayed on a television (video) screen. There are two basic systems. In one, information is broadcast using the standard television signals; in the other, information is relayed to the screen from a central data bank via the telephone network. Both systems require the use of a television receiver with decoding device.

Videotex systems under the names of Ceefax and Prestel are a standard addition to television sets in the United Kingdom. No additional box was needed by the viewer: data were transmitted as part of the TV signal. The French videotex system was called Minitel, and required a box that was issued to all users, in order to supersede printed telephone directories (though many additional services were offered via Minitel).

In the United States a number of commercial videotex services were offered from 1982. They used additional hardware and required the use of a phone line; they quickly failed.