CEMCorp ICON

Dublin Core

Title

CEMCorp ICON

Subject

educational computer

Description

Historical context
(by Z. Stachniak)

Since the late 1940s, several computer enthusiasts and dedicated educators have engaged in a variety of computing-related activities, ranging from the design of computer toys and educational aids to publishing and establishing computer clubs and organizations. In 1949, Edmund Berkeley published Giant Brains, or Machines That Think, a book intended for a general audience interested in technological innovations. He followed it with a series of computer construction projects and educational devices in the 1950s, including Simon, BRAINIAC, and GENIAC. These devices were not intended as scientific instruments, but rather as educational tools

     to exhibit in simple understandable form the essential principle of any artificial brain
    [E. Berkeley and R.A. Jensen, World's Smallest Electric Brain, Radio Electronics, October 1950.]

Berkeley's computer education ideas inspired others to find ways of introducing knowledge about computers and their role in modern society to educators, electronics hobbyists, and even children. One such individual was Joseph Weisbecker, a computer engineer at RCA. His career spanned a wide range of fields, from designing mainframe computer hardware to developing microprocessors and microcomputer architectures. However, his true passion lay in demystifying the little-understood world of digital computing. Weisbecker's numerous iterations of his Flexible Recreational and Educational Device (FRED) were not another tape of computer toy—despite having designed many in the past—but as affordable, general-purpose computers for use in homes and schools.

The introduction of the first microprocessors in the early 1970s not only reshaped the semiconductor industry but also gave rise to the global microcomputer industry. Education quickly emerged as one of the key application areas driving this new technological wave. As early as 1973, during the launch of its MCM/70 computer, the Canadian electronics company Micro Computer Machines (MCM) identified education as a primary market for microcomputers. The company emphasized that computers like the MCM/70 could

      provide each student in a computer equipped classroom with his own individualized interactive computer. [...]
      Featuring a language suitable in
its simplicity and power for students and teachers alike, the MCM/70
      brings to the world of education a technological solution to the problem of introducing economical interactive
      computer systems.
[MCM promotional brochure, 1974]

By the early 1980s, the use of microcomputers in schools had become widespread. In several countries, educators began experimenting with large-scale computer education programs. One such initiative was the BBC Computer Literacy Project, launched in the UK in 1981. It played a significant role in introducing computing into UK homes and schools and served as a crucial stepping stone for many people's first experiences with computers and programming.

In Canada, the television series Bits and Bytes, produced by TVOntario in 1983, aimed to teach the basics of home and personal computer use and applications. That same year, the Ottawa-based NABU Network launched an education channel that featured both commercial and teacher-developed courseware. The content covered a broad range of subjects, including the arts, languages, computer programming, skills and tools, as well as mathematics, history, and various scientific disciplines.

Ontario Educational Computer

In the early 1980s, Canadian provinces and territories recognized that computers would have a significant impact on education. This awareness was reflected in the formation of numerous working committees and task forces at both the government and local school board levels. It became increasingly clear that advancements in microelectronics would continue to drive major changes in Canadian society—particularly within the education system.

At the time, Canadian schools were using a wide array of incompatible microcomputers produced by companies such as Apple Computer, Atari, Commodore, Tandy, and Texas Instruments. As a result, educational software had to be developed separately for each platform, making it difficult to standardize and streamline computer-based education programs. In response to this challenge, the Ontario Ministry of Education began implementing a coordinated computer education program in 1983.

      It is increasingly important that students in Ontario schools have the opportunity to the full
      extent of their abilities to become knowledgeable
and creative users of the microcomputer as a
      personal tool. Only in this
way will we be able, individually and corporately, to cope with the
      "Information Revolution" that advancing micro-technology is creating, and to take full advantage of
      the social and economic opportunities it creates.

      [The Ministry of Education, Ontario, Policy/Program Memorandum No.
      68, March 24, 1983]

The Ministry argued that the most effective way to address the hardware and software needs of Ontario schools was to base the selection of microcomputers on well-researched and clearly defined functional requirements. The Functional Requirements for Microcomputers for Educational Use in Ontario Schools were issued in 1983. School boards that purchased microcomputers meeting these standards were eligible to receive grants covering 75% of the purchase cost. Additionally, the Ministry allocated $5 million for the development of educational software for use with microcomputers that met its requirements.

The new Ontario educational computing initiative was also designed to achieve another important goal: stimulating the growth of Canada’s microelectronics industry, particularly in the areas of hardware and software development. It was argued that

      this need [for expertly developed educational software ] can best be met if a competitive educational software
      industry can be 
established in Ontario whose primary market is the province's elementary and secondary school
      system. Basing itself on this market and taking
advantage of the strong R & D base in computer science which has
     
developed in Ontario universities, and the experience gained to date, such an industry could potentially seize a
      dominant position internationally
in the provision of educational software. [...] Unless every opportunity is taken to
      develop in Canada a world class capability in these vital
technologies we cannot remain competitive in the world economy.
      [The Ministry of Education, Ontario, Policy/Program Memorandum No. 69, March 24, 1983]

CEMCorp ICON computer

At the time the Functional Requirements for Microcomputers for Educational Use in Ontario Schools were announced, only one Canadian company—Educational Microprocessor Corporation (CEMCorp) of Toronto—offered a computer design that met the specifications. Founded in 1981, CEMCorp was established in response to the Board of Industrial Leadership and Development’s recommendation to create an all-Canadian microcomputer tailored to the educational market and to support the growth of the Canadian educational software industry.

Given this context, it is not surprising that the Ontario Ministry of Education awarded CEMCorp a $10 million contract to complete the design and manufacture the ICON—a new standardized educational microcomputer system for Ontario schools.

CEMCorp began shipping the ICON in 1984. The computer was manufactured by Microtel in Belleville, Ontario (with the exception of the display manufactured in Taiwan). Its QNX operating system was developed by Quantum Software Systems of Ottawa, while Toronto-based Burroughs Canada was contracted to handle sales and support.

Between 1984 and the early 1990s, several generations of the ICON were produced. In 1986, the ICON II workstation was introduced by Unisys Corporation, which had been formed through the merger of Burroughs and Sperry Rand. The ICON II featured a redesigned case, a detached keyboard with an integrated trackball, expanded RAM, and support for an internal hard disk.

The ICON II was later succeeded by several models of IBM-compatible computers, built around the Intel 386 processor and ran Microsoft DOS and Windows operating systems.

The success of IBM and Apple Computer in the microcomputer market—along with other manufacturers gaining ministerial approval for educational computers that had originally been the exclusive domain of the ICON—led to a significantly reduced presence of Unisys computers in Ontario schools. Moreover, unlike the ICON, these well-established platforms were supported by an extensive base of software publishers that provided vast libraries of educational software.

Ultimately, the Ontario Ministry of Education ended all support for the ICON platform in 1994, which was soon followed by Unisys discontinuing ICON production. Despite its eventual demise, the ICON had a lasting impact on computer education in Ontario, introducing a generation of students and teachers to the world of computing.

CEMCorp ICON technical description

The CEMCorp ICON computer was based on a workstation–file server model, with the file server—called the LEXICON—providing system and application software, external storage, and connectivity to shared peripherals such as printers. The workstation itself was housed in a large metal case, featuring a tilt-and-swivel display mounted on top, a built-in full-sized keyboard, and a trackball. It booted from the LEXICON server via a dedicated ARCNET network.

The ICON offered NAPLPS/Telidon-based graphics and included a speech synthesis controller that enabled synthetic speech communication. A GUI-based Ambience software, developed by the Ontario Ministry of Education, provided an environment for students and teachers to, among other operations, interact with ICON without the explicit use of the operating system.

The LEXICON file server was housed in a cuboid-shaped metal enclosure and featured an internal hard drive with a minimum storage capacity of 10 MB, along with a single 5.25" floppy disk drive. In addition to system and application software, the hard drive stored all user workspaces. The server included multiple ports for connecting ICON workstations, a shared printer, and optional external peripherals such as a keyboard and display. Internally, its hardware closely resembled that of the ICON workstation.

CEMCorp selected the little-known QUNIX operating system—renamed QNX in 1983—for the ICON. Its adoption by CEMCorp, and shortly thereafter by the NABU Network for its NABU 1600 computer, helped open the global embedded systems market to QNX.

CEMCorp ICON software

One of the key objectives of the Ministry’s Ontario Approved Educational Computer initiative was to foster the growth of a competitive educational software industry. To support this goal, the Ministry allocated $5 million to its Exemplary Lessonware Project, aimed at assisting in the development of high-quality educational software aligned with the learning objectives outlined in the Ministry’s curriculum guidelines for elementary and secondary schools.

More than 500 software proposals were submitted in response to the call for computer-based learning materials; however, only 57 lessonware projects were selected for funding. These projects were managed by the Ontario Educational Software Service (OESS), and the completed software was distributed by TVOntario.

However, by the end of 1987, Ontario's educational software industry remained in its early stages. Despite some notable exceptions, companies from outside the province were generally reluctant to participate. As a result, fewer than 100 lessonware titles were available through TVO/OESS (see the list below), which negatively affected ICON’s competitiveness in the educational market.

Several programming languages were offered for the ICON, including C and Logo from UNISIS, as well as APL, BASIC, COBOL, Fortran, and Pascal from Watcom of Waterloo. Other notable software developed for the ICON included the aforementioned Ambience, created by the Ontario Ministry of Education, ALICE Pascal from Looking Glass Software in Toronto, and a variety of text and graphics editors.

Selected ICON software, 1987:


TITLE AUTHORS PUBLISHER AREA
Accele-read M. Barcelos, M. Billard et al. Centre (1) reading
Animals of Ontario A. Delong Southwood (18) biology
Art Treasures J. Pollock Ministry (2) art history
Bar Graphs M. Barcelos, M. Billard et al. Centre (1) data representation
The Bartlett Saga Part I: Refugees in the Wilderness J. Bemrose, Ch. Moore Interactive (16) history, geography
The Bartlett Saga Part II: The Rebels J. Bemrose Interactive (16) history, geography
The Bartlett Saga Part IV: The Golden West P. McGrath, Ch. Moore Interactive (16) history, geography
B.C. Lumbering J. Buckley, K. Donald - geography, economics
Cargo Sailer ? Ministry (2) social studies, geography
CASI Accounting Paul Rehak Computer Systems (4) business, accounting
Cattle J. Pollock Ministry (2) biology, history
Colourball ? Ministry (2) system demo
Contributing Canadians J. Pollock Ministry (2) history
Data Classification G. Caissy, M.Howart et al. Mindflight (5) social studies, science
Decide, Your Excellency J. Leishman, J. Thiessen et al. Liveware (17) sociology, geography
Electric Chemistry Building D. Santry, A. Blizzard et al. Snowbird (19) chemistry
Flame Life J. Olson Queen's (6) physics
Food Nutrient Tally S. Jones Peel (7) biology
Function Workshop J. Thiessen et al. Liveware (17) math
Get Ready for Math M. Howarth Mindflight (5) math
Grand Tour L. Haynes Copp Clark Pitman, Ltd. math
Greenhouse ? ? biology
Ideal Gas Simulation M. Kilpatrick, G. Miao at al. Gemini (8) chemistry
InfoSchool - Create New Database ? ? data management
InfoSchool - Discovering Ontario ? ? geography
Intuitrig B. Collacutt, D. Collacutt Logicus (10) math
IPaint M.Lamb, J. Martin, L. Gondor Innovations (3) art
Izzit M. Golick, M. Lee Cinemedia (9) problem solving, reading
Know Your Numbers M. Howarth Mindflight (5) math
Learn to Ad M. Howarth Mindflight (5) math
Learn to Count M. Howarth Mindflight (5) math
Learn to Subtract M. Howarth Mindflight (5) math
Learning Game Generator ? Ministry (2) game generator
Logic Lab W. Buxtonm M. Delange UofT (11) computer studies
Map Manoeuvre C. Ratsep social studies, geography
Math Maze D. Didu DAD's (12) math
MathVille ? Courseware (20) math
Micro News B. Collacutt, D. Collacutt Logicus (10) language arts
Moving Words M.Barcelos, M.Billard et al. Centre (1) vocabulary
North-West Fur Trade J. Brent J.J. and J. (13) geography, history
Offshore Fishing D. Leslie - geography, environment
Partie-Prise M. Barcelos, M. Billard et al. Centre (1) visual perception
Putting Yourself Together S. White East York Board (14) social studies
Rapidodactylo S. Nakamura, M. Kryger - science, dactylography
Ratio Factors R. Snyder - chemistry
Shape Mate B. Collacutt, D. Collacutt Soft Sell (14) geometry
Speakface ? Ministry (2) language arts
The Number Place ? ? math
The Puzzler J. Gollan, D. Burnett, et al. Queen's (6) language arts, reading
The Voyages of Columbus ? Ministry (2) social studies, history
Treasure of Ile Madame ? ? ?
Type-Away S. Nakamura, M. Kryger - typing
Unusual Countries J. Pollock Ministry (2) geography, history
Upstairs-Downstairs J. Hosack Twintek (15) special education
(1) le Centre franco-ontarien de ressources pédagogiques, Ottawa, On.
(2) Computers in Education Centre, the Ministry of Education of Ontario
(3) Innovations Foundation, University of Toronto, ON
(4) Canadian Education Computer Systems, Beamsville, ON
(5) Mindflight Technology Inc., Dunnville, ON
(6) Faculty of Education, Queen's University, Kingston, ON
(7) Peel Board of Education, Mississauga, ON
(8) Gemini Education Group, Don Mills, ON
(9) International Cinemedia Center Ltd., Toronto, ON
(10) Logicus Inc., Nobelton, ON
(11) Computer Systems and Research Institute, University of Toronto, ON
(12) DAD's Computing, Ancasetr, ON
(13) J.J. and J Enterprises, Brantford, ON
(14) Soft Sell, Bolton, ON
(15) Twintek Educational Software, Orilla, ON
(16) Interactive Image Technologies, Toronto, ON
(17) Liveware, Winnipeg, MB
(18) Southwood Park School, Ajax, ON
(19) Snowbird Software, Hamilton, ON
(20) Courseware Solutions Inc., Toronto, ON


CEMCorp ICON workstation technical specifications
  • CPU: Intel iAPX186, 7.16 MHz,
  • RAM: 512KBytes,
  • ROM: 128KBytes,
  • Voice Synthesis Processor: TMS5220CNL speech synthesizer,
  • display: 12in monochrome (640x240 pixels) or 13in color (320x240 pixels),  Hitachi HD46505 SP-1 display controller supporting NAPLPS,
  • keyboard: 96-key QWERTY with additional function keys and special keys: ACTION, HELP, PAUSE, and REBOOT,
  • numeric keypad: 18-key, built-in,
  • trackball: built-in,
  • ports: Iconet network IN and OUT, video out, external keyboard, RS232 serial port (x2), parallel printer port,
  • LAN: a modified ARCNET, 2.5 Mbit/sec token passing.
CEMCorp LEXICON File server specification
  • CPU: Intel iAPX186, 7.16 MHz,
  • motherboard: the same as ICON workstation,
  • diskette drive: single 5 1/4" floppy diskette drive, 640Kbytes capacity,
  • hard drive: minimum 10MBytes (YUCoM's LEXICON contains a Metropolis ST 506, 85MB hard drive),
  • ports: external keyboard, external video, Iconet network IN and OUT, parallel port, RS232 serial port (x2), AC in and an auxiliary power out.

Museum holdings
  • ICON archive: extensive collection of documents related to the introduction and development of the ICON program,
  • CEMCorp ICON workstation, serial number 11003684 (on display),
  • LEXICON file server, serial number T-841201-219, manufacturing date: April 1985,
  • Unisis ICON 2 workstation, serial nr. 345953715, manufacturing date: Nov. 1987,
  • Unisis Model CA-3321 computer, serial nr. 432008332,
  • Unisis display terminal VGA 200 MON, serial nr. 310902161, manufacturing date: Feb. 1991.

Creator

The Ministry of Education of Ontario, CEMCorp, Unisis

Source

ICON archive, YUCoM

Date

1983-1994

Coverage

Ontario, Canada

Files

ICON_YUCoM.png
LEXICON_YUCoM.png

Citation

The Ministry of Education of Ontario, CEMCorp, Unisis, “CEMCorp ICON,” York University Computer Museum Canada, accessed May 9, 2025, https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/items/show/350.

Output Formats