Abstract: A terminal at a data acquisition site and a terminal adapter at a computer site for efficiently acquiring, formatting, and communicating data to a computer for processing, for controlling the computer, and for receiving and responding to processed or responsive data from the computer. The terminal includes a plurality of input channels for receiving data (both acquired data and control signals), and a plurality of output channels for responding to processed data, each of such channels being assigned a unique digital address. Communication between the terminal and the terminal adapter is accomplished in a serial fashion, utilizing compound digital words including both data and address. Means are provided at both the terminal and terminal adapter for routing data within a received compound word to its addressed location.