MICOM 1001 Digital Word Processor
Title
MICOM 1001 Digital Word Processor
Subject
hardware: digital word processor
Description
Historical context
(by Z. Stachniak)
In 1967, Stephen Dorsey founded Automatic Electronic Systems (AES) in Montreal to develop electronic devices for industrial remote-control applications. Over the six years, AES developed, among other products, its own minicomputers (the AES-80 and AES-80C) and the world’s first all-in-one programmable word processor — the AES-90. Until the mid-1980s, digital word processors remained the company's main line of business, sold around the world.
In the 1960s, office document-writing equipment was still dominated by various types of typewriters, ranging from purely mechanical to electric models, including those with digital storage for recording typed text, such as the best-selling IBM MT/ST (Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter), which recorded edited documents on magnetic tape. These devices lacked displays and offered only limited word-processing functionality. None of them could be upgraded to newer versions; they could only be replaced with more advanced models as they became available.
It all changed in the early 1970s, when several companies introduced dedicated text-editing equipment with displays for on-screen document editing and external storage. In 1972, Linolex Systems introduced its Model A while Lexitron offered the Videotype 911. In the following year, AES released its AES-90 Word Processor, and Vydec began selling its Vydec Text Processor. Although all these systems provided on-screen editing and external storage, several unique features of the AES-90 set new trends in the design of cost-effective text editing equipment. The most important of these was the AES-90 architecture and its software upgradability. The AES-90 was a standalone system that featured a CRT display, a keyboard, and two 8-inch floppy disk drives connected to a central processor. However, unlike the “hard-wired” solutions used in other early on-screen text-editing systems, the AES-90 processor was built around a general-purpose minicomputer (the AES-90C) running dedicated text-editing software. This design allowed for software updates, bug fixes, and adaptation to changing requirements without the need to purchase a new processor and discard the outdated one. For this reason, the ACS-90 was promoted as a programmable word processor and “a giant step into a new era of cost-effective written communication.” Within a few years, the office equipment market was flooded with similar video-screen text-editing products from companies worldwide—the Toshiba JW-10 Japanese Language Word Processor, announced in 1978, is one notable example—revolutionizing office operations.
Although orders for AES-90 processors were piling up, AES faced significant difficulties with cash flow and attracting investor interest. Ultimately, the company came under the control of Innocan Investments Ltd., a Canadian financial organization specializing in venture capital for new and expanding firms, particularly those in high-technology industries. The Canadian Development Corporation owned 40% of Innocan, while other shareholders included the Air Canada Pension Fund, the Bank of Nova Scotia, and several well-established investment groups. Difficult relationship with AES financial backers led Dorsey to leave the company in 1975.
Soon after leaving AES, Dorsey founded Micom Data Systems in Montreal. The company went on to manufacture a successful line of digital word processors, beginning with the introduction of the Micom 2000 in 1976.
In 1978, Philips Information Systems of Toronto, a subsidiary of the Dutch office automation giant Philips NV, acquired 80% of Micom’s ownership. As part of the Philips corporate group, Micom gained access to Philips' extensive global marketing and distribution network. By the end of the 1970s, Micom had become a market leader, ranking first in sales in Canada and second in Europe. Its equipment was installed in numerous major organizations, from Air Canada and Washington Gas to NASA (with over 50 MICOM 2000 systems deployed).
Micom's workforce grew rapidly, expanding from just five employees in 1976 to more than 1,100 by 1980.
In 1984, the company relocated to a new facility in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, and began manufacturing the Micom line of Philips PCs in addition to its word-processing hardware. That year, Philips Information Systems recorded sales of $62 million, up from $38 million in 1983. Of that $62 million, approximately $42 million came from the sales of Micom word processors.
Although Micom was more successful than AES Data in the 1980s, its word processing business was phased out by the end of the decade due to the global transition in the office-equipment industry toward microcomputer-based multifunctional solutions.
Micom 1001
Released in 1980, Micom 1001 word processor was designed and manufactured in Canada. It had built-in plasma display (one line of 40 characters) and a single mini cassette drive for external storage. The QWERTY-style keyboard included editing function keys and tape storage control keys. The processor could be connected to a printer.
Technical specifications
CPU: Zilog Z80 microprocessor, 8-bit; with Mostek MK3882N timer-controller;
ROM: 16 Kb x 8 in 4 2732 EPROMs;
display: built-in LCD module, one line of 40 characters, controleed by the HD43160A LCD chip containing character generator and display memory ;
keyboard: QWERTY-style, 57 keys; 10 function and control keys;
external storage: single mini cassette drive;
porrts: printer port.
Software
Firmware stored in ROM.
Museum holdings
(by Z. Stachniak)
In 1967, Stephen Dorsey founded Automatic Electronic Systems (AES) in Montreal to develop electronic devices for industrial remote-control applications. Over the six years, AES developed, among other products, its own minicomputers (the AES-80 and AES-80C) and the world’s first all-in-one programmable word processor — the AES-90. Until the mid-1980s, digital word processors remained the company's main line of business, sold around the world.
In the 1960s, office document-writing equipment was still dominated by various types of typewriters, ranging from purely mechanical to electric models, including those with digital storage for recording typed text, such as the best-selling IBM MT/ST (Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter), which recorded edited documents on magnetic tape. These devices lacked displays and offered only limited word-processing functionality. None of them could be upgraded to newer versions; they could only be replaced with more advanced models as they became available.
It all changed in the early 1970s, when several companies introduced dedicated text-editing equipment with displays for on-screen document editing and external storage. In 1972, Linolex Systems introduced its Model A while Lexitron offered the Videotype 911. In the following year, AES released its AES-90 Word Processor, and Vydec began selling its Vydec Text Processor. Although all these systems provided on-screen editing and external storage, several unique features of the AES-90 set new trends in the design of cost-effective text editing equipment. The most important of these was the AES-90 architecture and its software upgradability. The AES-90 was a standalone system that featured a CRT display, a keyboard, and two 8-inch floppy disk drives connected to a central processor. However, unlike the “hard-wired” solutions used in other early on-screen text-editing systems, the AES-90 processor was built around a general-purpose minicomputer (the AES-90C) running dedicated text-editing software. This design allowed for software updates, bug fixes, and adaptation to changing requirements without the need to purchase a new processor and discard the outdated one. For this reason, the ACS-90 was promoted as a programmable word processor and “a giant step into a new era of cost-effective written communication.” Within a few years, the office equipment market was flooded with similar video-screen text-editing products from companies worldwide—the Toshiba JW-10 Japanese Language Word Processor, announced in 1978, is one notable example—revolutionizing office operations.
Although orders for AES-90 processors were piling up, AES faced significant difficulties with cash flow and attracting investor interest. Ultimately, the company came under the control of Innocan Investments Ltd., a Canadian financial organization specializing in venture capital for new and expanding firms, particularly those in high-technology industries. The Canadian Development Corporation owned 40% of Innocan, while other shareholders included the Air Canada Pension Fund, the Bank of Nova Scotia, and several well-established investment groups. Difficult relationship with AES financial backers led Dorsey to leave the company in 1975.
Soon after leaving AES, Dorsey founded Micom Data Systems in Montreal. The company went on to manufacture a successful line of digital word processors, beginning with the introduction of the Micom 2000 in 1976.
In 1978, Philips Information Systems of Toronto, a subsidiary of the Dutch office automation giant Philips NV, acquired 80% of Micom’s ownership. As part of the Philips corporate group, Micom gained access to Philips' extensive global marketing and distribution network. By the end of the 1970s, Micom had become a market leader, ranking first in sales in Canada and second in Europe. Its equipment was installed in numerous major organizations, from Air Canada and Washington Gas to NASA (with over 50 MICOM 2000 systems deployed).
Micom's workforce grew rapidly, expanding from just five employees in 1976 to more than 1,100 by 1980.
In 1984, the company relocated to a new facility in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, and began manufacturing the Micom line of Philips PCs in addition to its word-processing hardware. That year, Philips Information Systems recorded sales of $62 million, up from $38 million in 1983. Of that $62 million, approximately $42 million came from the sales of Micom word processors.
Although Micom was more successful than AES Data in the 1980s, its word processing business was phased out by the end of the decade due to the global transition in the office-equipment industry toward microcomputer-based multifunctional solutions.
Micom 1001
Released in 1980, Micom 1001 word processor was designed and manufactured in Canada. It had built-in plasma display (one line of 40 characters) and a single mini cassette drive for external storage. The QWERTY-style keyboard included editing function keys and tape storage control keys. The processor could be connected to a printer.
Technical specifications
CPU: Zilog Z80 microprocessor, 8-bit; with Mostek MK3882N timer-controller;
ROM: 16 Kb x 8 in 4 2732 EPROMs;
display: built-in LCD module, one line of 40 characters, controleed by the HD43160A LCD chip containing character generator and display memory ;
keyboard: QWERTY-style, 57 keys; 10 function and control keys;
external storage: single mini cassette drive;
porrts: printer port.
Software
Firmware stored in ROM.
Museum holdings
- MICOM 1001 digital word processor, model number M1001, serial number 500627,
- Micom 2001, Reference Manual, Micom Data Systems Ltd, 1980,
- Micom/Philips promo literature.
Creator
Micom/Philips
Identifier
H.41
Coverage
World, 1980s
Online Submission
No
Files
Citation
Micom/Philips, “MICOM 1001 Digital Word Processor,” York University Computer Museum Canada, accessed December 3, 2025, https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/items/show/65.