Historical context The growing popularity of home and personal computing in the late 1970s and early 1980s created a vibrant software industry supplying microcomputer users with a vast range of software products. During that period, the main form of the commercial microcomputer software distribution was packaged software sold in computer stores and outlets in the form of ROM cartridges, tape cassettes, and floppy diskettes. Even though the prices of personal and home computers were falling sharply in the early 1980s, the cost of good quality software remained the same reflecting, in part, high distribution costs. Electronic distribution of software directly into homes of computer owners originated in the second half of the 1970s. It was a novel, fast, and cost-effective alternative to packaged software's expensive, long, and multi-stage delivery process. A computer or a video game console owner could subscribe to an electronic distribution of software service (EDS service) that and gain an electronic access to software and data for a low monthly fee (of, approximately, the cost of a single commercial packaged software). By the early 1980s, several North American and European companies were already distributing software using common communication links (such radio waves, cable television (CATV), or telephone networks). While Europe was experimenting with EDS via teletext and videotex television services, several North American companies were looking into using CATV's superior high-speed digital information delivery capability for the purpose of mass-market distribution of home and recreational software. By the early 1980s, a large percentage of urban households in North America had a direct link to cable TV. Furthermore, a strong growth of the home computer and video game console markets was projected until at least mid-1980s. Such forecasts supported the prospects of vast new sources of revenues for cable providers derived from bundling EDS with other CATV-based nonprogramming services. The NABU Network was possibly the most advanced and foremost among the early CATV-based EDS services. It was a brainchild of a Canadian entrepreneur John Kelly. The NABU Manufacturing Corp., which would spawn the NABU Network Corp., was incorporated in June 1981. It was initially created through the amalgamation of three companies: Bruce Instruments Ltd. (manufacturer of cable TV converters based in Almonte), MFC Microsystems International Inc. (a distributor of computer hardware and software for small business systems), and Computer Innovations Ltd. (which operated computer retail stores across Canada). Soon after, NABU Manufacturing acquired Andicom Technical Products Ltd. (a manufacturer of small business computers based in Toronto), Consolidated Computer Inc. (a manufacturer and distributor of key-edit systems), Mobius Software Ltd. (an Ottawa-based software consulting company), and Volker-Craig (a Kitchener-based manufacturer of video-display terminals). NABU's business plan was to capture a sizable share of the microcomputer market by offering the world's first cable-ready computers and by implementing a new delivery method for software and information -- the NABU Network. The company announced its network during the 1982 National Cable & Telecommunications Association conference in Las Vegas. In May 1983, the company transmitted its programming via satellite from Ottawa to terminals installed at the 26th Annual Convention of the Canadian Cable Television Association in Calgary. The transmission used the ANIK-D1 satellite, and it was a live feed from Ottawa. The NABU Network was officially launched on 15 October 1983 on Ottawa Cablevision, an 85,000-subscriber company where much of NABU's testing was performed. Soon thereafter, the network made its US debut in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tribune Cable, a 5,000 subscriber service. The launch marked the creation of the first commercial computer network to provide high-speed access to information, software, and digital entertainment directly to homes of personal computer users. The network was based on the concept of computers linked to cable television networks which could supply a constant stream of computer programs and information to almost unlimited number of users at high speed. NABU considered cable television a uniquely ideal technology to deliver software and data to home computers because of its high bandwidth and networking capabilities. To access NABU Network, customers had to purchase or rent a NABU Personal Computer (NABU PC) and a network adaptor that provided an interface between the NABU PC and the CATV's dedicated channel. The network provided its subscribers with a multi tier service that offered software and information in a range of categories, including entertainment, education, family information, home management, and a network guide. The November-December 1984 issue of The NABU Network magazine lists over 140 titles available on Ottawa Cablevision's NABU Network. In Ottawa, NABU program listings were available online (on NABU's Network Guide) as well as in local newspapers and dedicated NABU magazines. The NABU PC could be operated as a stand-alone desktop computer. For this purpose, NABU supplied its customers with Digital Research CP/M 3 operating system and floppy disk drives. Because of the company's financial difficulties, unfavourable market conditions, and regulatory constraints, the NABU Network went off the air on 31 August 1986 in both Ottawa and Alexandria. Rights to exploit commercial applications of NABU Network technology--that is, to selling the technology to corporations that could provide their own content--were vested in International Datacasting Corp. created in 1984. The NABU Adaptor -- overview The NABU Adaptor (NA) was a high-speed (6.312 Mbps), addressable communications device which interfaced a NABU PC with a CATV NABU channel allowing an access to digital data provided by NABU Network to its subscribers. Such data was either processed by the adaptor for its own internal use (e.g. for updating subscription information) or passed on to the NABU PC. NA was equipped with a signal splitter allowing cable signal to be fed simultaneously to the NABU PC and to the subscriber's TV set. Because the NABU PC was designed primarily to use a TV set as a display, this arrangement permitted easy switching from the PC operations over to normal TV broadcast (this was accomplished using the TV/NABU key located on the computer's keyboard). NAs contained several dedicated memories. Each NA had a unique digital address stored in address memory at time of manufacture. This address allowed NABU Network operators to send short messages and instructions to, for instance, authorize or de-authorize the subscriber to receive programs in specific service tiers. Tire authorization data was stored in NA's tire authorization memory. Such data was updated by NABU Network operators by transmitting tire information to specific NA addresses. Each NA could be authorized for up to 31 tiers. Finally, NA's message memory was designed to store short messages for electronic mail service. NA's front panel featured four LED indicators: POWER, CABLE, LINK, MESSAGE. They allowed to detect possible malfunctioning of a subscriber's system and could help cable operators to diagnose the system remotely. The museum has two NABU Adaptors: model number NA-2, serial number 005420, model number NP-2, serial number 0014291.
NABU Manufacturing Corp., NABU Network Corp.
1983-1986, Ottawa (Canada), Alexandria (US), and Sowa (Japan)
Historical context The growing popularity of home and personal computing in the late 1970s and early 1980s created a vibrant software industry supplying microcomputer users with a vast range of software products. During that period, the main form of the commercial microcomputer software distribution was packaged software sold in computer stores and outlets in the form of ROM cartridges, tape cassettes, and floppy diskettes. Even though the prices of personal and home computers were falling sharply in the early 1980s, the cost of good quality software remained the same reflecting, in part, high distribution costs. Electronic distribution of software directly into homes of computer owners originated in the second half of the 1970s. It was a novel, fast, and cost-effective alternative to packaged software's expensive, long, and multi-stage delivery process. A computer or a video game console owner could subscribe to an electronic distribution of software service (EDS service) that and gain an electronic access to software and data for a low monthly fee (of, approximately, the cost of a single commercial packaged software). By the early 1980s, several North American and European companies were already distributing software using common communication links (such radio waves, cable television (CATV), or telephone networks). While Europe was experimenting with EDS via teletext and videotex television services, several North American companies were looking into using CATV's superior high-speed digital information delivery capability for the purpose of mass-market distribution of home and recreational software. By the early 1980s, a large percentage of urban households in North America had a direct link to cable TV. Furthermore, a strong growth of the home computer and video game console markets was projected until at least mid-1980s. Such forecasts supported the prospects of vast new sources of revenues for cable providers derived from bundling EDS with other CATV-based nonprogramming services. The NABU Network was possibly the most advanced and foremost among the early CATV-based EDS services. It was a brainchild of a Canadian entrepreneur John Kelly. The NABU Manufacturing Corp., which would spawn the NABU Network Corp., was incorporated in June 1981. It was initially created through the amalgamation of three companies: Bruce Instruments Ltd. (manufacturer of cable TV converters based in Almonte), MFC Microsystems International Inc. (a distributor of computer hardware and software for small business systems), and Computer Innovations Ltd. (which operated computer retail stores across Canada). Soon after, NABU Manufacturing acquired Andicom Technical Products Ltd. (a manufacturer of small business computers based in Toronto), Consolidated Computer Inc. (a manufacturer and distributor of key-edit systems), Mobius Software Ltd. (an Ottawa-based software consulting company), and Volker-Craig (a Kitchener-based manufacturer of video-display terminals). NABU's business plan was to capture a sizable share of the microcomputer market by offering the world's first cable-ready computers and by implementing a new delivery method for software and information -- the NABU Network. The company announced its network during the 1982 National Cable & Telecommunications Association conference in Las Vegas. In May 1983, the company transmitted its programming via satellite from Ottawa to terminals installed at the 26th Annual Convention of the Canadian Cable Television Association in Calgary. The transmission used the ANIK-D1 satellite, and it was a live feed from Ottawa. The NABU Network was officially launched on 15 October 1983 on Ottawa Cablevision, an 85,000-subscriber company where much of NABU's testing was performed. Soon thereafter, the network made its US debut in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tribune Cable, a 5,000 subscriber service. The launch marked the creation of the first commercial computer network to provide high-speed access to information, software, and digital entertainment directly to homes of personal computer users. The network was based on the concept of computers linked to cable television networks which could supply a constant stream of computer programs and information to almost unlimited number of users at high speed. The network provided its subscribers with a multi tier service that offered software and information in a range of categories, including entertainment, education, family information, home management, and a network guide. The November-December 1984 issue of The NABU Network magazine lists over 140 titles available on Ottawa Cablevision's NABU Network. In Ottawa, NABU program listings were available online (on NABU's Network Guide) as well as in local newspapers and dedicated NABU magazines. Because of the company's financial difficulties, unfavourable market conditions, and regulatory constraints, the NABU Network went off the air on 31 August 1986 in both Ottawa and Alexandria. Rights to exploit commercial applications of NABU Network technology--that is, to selling the technology to corporations that could provide their own content--were vested in International Datacasting Corp. created in 1984. NABU and its employees published several magazines and newsletters. The museum has the following publications: The NABU Network magazine (NABU Network, monthly); holdings: November and December 1984, The Changing Times (NABU Network, bi-monthly); holdings: January, March, and May 1985, The Hard Copy Newsletter (NABU Network, monthly); holdings: vol. 1, nr. 1, 2, 4, 1986, The Grunt Press (newsletter published by NABU employees, irregular); holdings: issuues 7-10, 1982; issues 11-13, 1983, The New Grunt Press (newsletter published by NABU employees, irregular); holdings: vol. 1-3, 5-20, 1984.
1983-1986, Ottawa (Canada), Sowa (Japan)
Historical Context The whole crew is instilled with the fervent enthusiasm of Those Who Have Seen The Light. On everyone's lips is the sacred name of the ancient Babylonian god of writing. NABU. Bringer of wisdom and understanding. NABU. Bringer of great pots of money. [P. Kinsman, NABU, NABU! One More Time From the Top, Enterprise, July 1981] The growing popularity of home and personal computing in the late 1970s and early 1980s created a vibrant software industry supplying microcomputer users with a vast range of software products. During that period, the main form of the commercial microcomputer software distribution was packaged software sold in computer stores and outlets in the form of ROM cartridges, tape cassettes, and floppy diskettes. Even though the prices of personal and home computers were falling sharply in the early 1980s, the cost of good quality software remained the same reflecting, in part, high distribution costs. Electronic distribution of software directly into homes of computer owners originated in the second half of the 1970s. It was a novel, fast, and cost-effective alternative to packaged software's expensive, long, and multi-stage delivery process. A computer or a video game console owner could subscribe to an electronic distribution of software service (EDS service) that and gain an electronic access to software and data for a low monthly fee (of, approximately, the cost of a single commercial packaged software). By the early 1980s, several North American and European companies were already distributing software using common communication links (such radio waves, cable television (CATV), or telephone networks). While Europe was experimenting with EDS via teletext and videotex television services, several North American companies were looking into using CATV's superior high-speed digital information delivery capability for the purpose of mass-market distribution of home and recreational software. By the early 1980s, a large percentage of urban households in North America had a direct link to cable TV. Furthermore, a strong growth of the home computer and video game console markets was projected until at least mid-1980s. Such forecasts supported the prospects of vast new sources of revenues for cable providers derived from bundling EDS with other CATV-based nonprogramming services. The NABU Network was possibly the most advanced and foremost among the early CATV-based EDS services. It was a brainchild of a Canadian entrepreneur John Kelly. The NABU Manufacturing Corp., which would spawn the NABU Network Corp., was incorporated in June 1981. It was initially created through the amalgamation of three companies: Bruce Instruments Ltd. (manufacturer of cable TV converters based in Almonte), MFC Microsystems International Inc. (a distributor of computer hardware and software for small business systems), and Computer Innovations Ltd. (which operated computer retail stores across Canada). Soon after, NABU Manufacturing acquired Andicom Technical Products Ltd. (a manufacturer of small business computers based in Toronto), Consolidated Computer Inc. (a manufacturer and distributor of key-edit systems), Mobius Software Ltd. (an Ottawa-based software consulting company), and Volker-Craig (a Kitchener-based manufacturer of video-display terminals). NABU's business plan was to capture a sizable share of the microcomputer market by offering the world's first cable-ready computers and by implementing a new delivery method for software and information -- the NABU Network. The company announced its network during the 1982 National Cable & Telecommunications Association conference in Las Vegas. In May 1983, the company transmitted its programming via satellite from Ottawa to terminals installed at the 26th Annual Convention of the Canadian Cable Television Association in Calgary. The transmission used the ANIK-D1 satellite, and it was a live feed from Ottawa. The NABU Network was officially launched on 15 October 1983 on Ottawa Cablevision, an 85,000-subscriber company where much of NABU's testing was performed. Soon thereafter, the network made its US debut in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tribune Cable, a 5,000 subscriber service. The launch marked the creation of the first commercial computer network to provide high-speed access to information, software, and digital entertainment directly to homes of personal computer users. The network was based on the concept of computers linked to cable television networks which could supply a constant stream of computer programs and information to almost unlimited number of users at high speed. NABU considered cable television a uniquely ideal technology to deliver software and data to home computers because of its high bandwidth and networking capabilities. To access NABU Network, customers had to purchase or rent a NABU Personal Computer (NABU PC) and a network adaptor that provided an interface between the NABU PC and the CATV's dedicated channel. The network provided its subscribers with a multi tier service that offered software and information in a range of categories, including entertainment, education, family information, home management, and a network guide. The November-December 1984 issue of The NABU Network magazine lists over 140 titles available on Ottawa Cablevision's NABU Network. In Ottawa, NABU program listings were available online (on NABU's Network Guide) as well as in local newspapers and dedicated NABU magazines. The NABU PC could be operated as a stand-alone desktop computer. For this purpose, NABU supplied its customers with Digital Research CP/M 3 operating system and floppy disk drives. Because of the company's financial difficulties, unfavourable market conditions, and regulatory constraints, the NABU Network went off the air on 31 August 1986 in both Ottawa and Alexandria. Rights to exploit commercial applications of NABU Network technology--that is, to selling the technology to corporations that could provide their own content--were vested in International Datacasting Corp. created in 1984. References: Stachniak, Z. Early Commercial Electronic Distribution of Software, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, January-March (2014), pp. 39-51. The NABU PC technical specifications: CPU - ZILOG Z80A, 8-bit, 3.58MHz clock speed, RAM - 64Kb, NPC's main memory under the CPU's control, RAM - 16Kb, video display memory under the video processor's control, ROM - 4K or 8K (hosting software for bootstrap, self-test, and initialization), video processor - Texas Instruments TMS 9918A, sound generator - General Instrument AY-3-8910 programmable sound generator, external storage - floppy diskette drives; a floppy drive controller was required to be installed in one of the expansion, expansion ports - four 30-pin, keyboard - 66 key QWERTY-style (including 8 cursor and control as well as "YES" and "NO" keys), detachable, microprocessor-controlled, features two game controller connectors, game controllers - up to two controllers connected to the keyboard via DB-9 connectors; 8 position and fire button control, display - 24 lines of 40 characters, 16 colors (including transparent); requires a dedicated computer monitor or a television set connected via RF modulator, ports/connectors - serial EIA RS422 Adaptor interface, 8-bit parallel printer port (15-pin), EIA RS422 keyboard connector (6-PIN DIN), video connector (RCA phono jack), audio connector (RCA phono jack), cable IN ad OUT connectors (type F), data transmission rate - 6.312 Mbits. The NABU PC systems software: NABU BDOS - NABU Basic Downloadable Operating System, NABU Network Corp., 1982-1986 XIOS1 - Extended Internal Operating Software, module 1, NABU Network Corp., 1982-1986 XIOS2 - Extended Internal Operating Software, module 2, NABU Network Corp., 1982-1986 Disk Utilities for NABU floppy disk drive, Digital Research, 1983 and NABU Network Corp., 1983 RAM test utility program, NABU Network Corp., 198? NABU Network applications and information programs in the museum's collection title category creator ALPHABLAST II game NABU Network Corp., 1982 ALPHA LAB LOGO educational program unknown ANGLE TANGLE LOGO educational program unknown ANTARCTIC VENTURE game Konami, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 ANTONYM ANTICS educational game NABU Network Corp., 1984 AQUATTACK game Interphase Technologies Inc., 1984 ATMOSPHERE educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 ATOMS educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 BACKGAMMON game NABU Network Corp., 1982 BIORHYTHMS game NABU Network Corp., 1982 BEEVADERS LOGO game unknown B.C. MATCH UP game NABU Network Corp., 1982 B.C. TRIVIA game NABU Network Corp., 1982 CAPACITORS educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 CFONT office program SoftCraft, 1982 CHECKERS game NABU Network Corp., 1984 CHINESE HOROSCOPES game NABU Network Corp., 1982 CIRCUS CHARLIE game NABU Network Corp., 1984 CIRCUIT educational program NABU Network Corp., 1982 COMPUTER GLOSSARY information program NABU Network Corp., 1983 CORRECT-IT educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 CYCLONS game Syntax Software Inc., 1983 DARTS AND BALLOONS LOGO educational game unknown DECIMALS educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 DEFINITION educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 DEPOT game NABU Network Corp., 1983 EFONT Edit office program SoftCraft, 1982 EMBASSY CAPER game NABU Network Corp., 1984 FANCY FONT TUTOR information program NABU Network Corp., 1984 FLIP AND FLOP game First Star Software, 1983; NABU Network Corp., 1984 FRACTIONS educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 FRENCH VERBS I eduactional program Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 FROGGEE game Commercial Data Systems Ltd., 1982 GRAMMAR educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 HEAVYWAIGHT BOXING game Takara/Hal, 1983 HERBS & SPICE 1 information program 605477 Ontario Inc., 1985 HERBS & SPICE 2 information program 605477 Ontario Inc., 1985 HYPER SPORTS game Konami, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 INTERVALS educational program Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 KEYBOARD educational program Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 KIDDY PARK game NABU Network Corp., 1984 KNOW-IT-ALL information program NABU Network Corp., 1984 LASER ATTACK game NABU Network Corp., 1983 LEARNING LETTERS educational program Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 LEARNING NUMBERS educational program Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 LOGO ACTIVITY HELP information program NABU Network Corp., 1983 LOGO PREVIEW information program NABU Network Corp., 1984 LOGO REFERENCE information program NABU Network Corp., 1984 MACBETH game NABU Network Corp., 1983 MAKE UP educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 MANIA game NABU Network Corp, 1983 MATH ATTACK LOGO educational game unknown MATH PUZZLE game NABU Network Corp., 1984 MATH QUIZ educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 MAZE CRAZE LOGO game unknown METRIC CONVERTER educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 METRO BLITZ game Cymbal Software Inc, 1983 MINERAL HUNT LOGO educational game unknown MINER 2049ER game NABU Network Corp., 1984 MIX-IT educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 MOONSWEEPER game NABU Network Corp., 1984 MORTGAGE CALC home management NABU Manufacturing Corp., 1982 MOTION AND FORCE educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984) MOTORCYCLE educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 MR. CHIN game Hal, 1984 MUMMY'S TOMB game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 MURDER MANSION game NABU Network Corp., 1984 NABU BASIC V2.0 programming language unknown NABU BASIC TUTOR information program NABU Network Corp., 1984; code follows directory NABU CALC spreadsheet NABU Network Corp., 1984 NABU CALC TUTOR information program NABU Network Corp., 1984 NABU FILER database program NABU Network Corp., 1984 NABU FILER TUTOR information program NABU Network Corp., 1984 NABU LOGO, rev. 01 programming language LOGO Computer Systems Inc., 1983 NABU SPELLER office program NABU Network Corp., 1984 NABU SPELLER TUTOR information program NABU 1984 NABU WRITER office program NABU Network Corp., 198 NABU WRITER TUTOR information program NABU Network Corp., 198 NEOCLYPS game Cymbal Software Inc, 1983 NIMBLE LOGO game unknown NOTES AND STAFF educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 NOUNS educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 O CANADA LOGO educational game unknown PAINTPOT educational program unknown PARLOR POWER game NABU Network Corp., 1984 PERCENTAGES educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 PINBALL game John Allen, 1981 PING game NABU Manufacturing Corp., 1983 PLANETS educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 PRINTER TUTORIAL information program NABU Network Corp., 1984 PROVINCES LOGO educational game unknown QA DIG DUG game Namco Ltd., NABU Network Corp., 1984 QA GALAXIAN game Namco Ltd., NABU Network Corp., 1983 QA PAC-MAN game NABU Network Corp., 1983, 1984 QUEST FOR TIRES game Sierra On-Line Inc., Sydney Development Corp., 1983 Q*BERT game NABU Network Corp., 1984 RENEGADE educational game NABU Network Corp., 1983 RESISTORS educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 ROULETTE game NABU Network Corp., 1983 RUNES game NABU Network Corp., 1984 SARGON II CHESS game Dan and Kathleen, Hayden Book Comp. Inc., 1981 SCHMOZZLE game NABU Network Corp., 1984 SHAPES educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 SHAKESPEARE educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 SKETCH art program unknown SKI SARAJEVO game NABU Network Corp., 1984 SKI WHISTLER game SLEUTH game NABU Network Corp., 1984 SPORTS STUMPER game NABU Network Corp., 1984 STEP UP game NABU Network Corp., 1984 SUPER BILLIARDS game Bubble Bus Software, NABU Network Corp., 1984 SUPER BLOOPER educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 THE INFORMER information program NABU Network Corp., 1986 TIME PILOT game NABU Network Corp., 1984 TONES & SEMITONES educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 TOURNAMENT POKER game NABU Network Corp., 1984 TRACK & FIELD 1 game NABU Network Corp., 1984 TRACK & FIELD 2 game NABU Network Corp., 1984 TV IQ game NABU Network Corp., 1984 UFO'S game NABU Manufacturing Corp., 1982 WHIZ MIND LOGO game unknown WINE WATCH information program Wine Consultants of Canada, 1984 WING WAR game NABU Network Corp., 1984 WIZTYPE educational game NABU Network Corp., 1982 WIZTYPE TUTOR office program NABU Network Corp., 1982 WORD MASTERMIND educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 WORD ROTATE educational game Cymbal Software Inc, 1984, NABU Network Corp., 1984 ZIPPER game NABU Network Corp., 1983 ZORK I game NABU Network Corp., 1984 ZOT! game NABU Network Corp., 1984 The museum has several NABU PC and Adaptor units including the NABU PC 4K and 8K ROM models.
NABU Network Manufacturing Corp., NABU Network Corp.
The NDS-1000 (also know as the Pancake) was a microprocessor-based word processor and communication system designed and manufactured by Network Data Systems between 1978 and 1985. The NDS-1000 consisted of a CPU unit (built around the Zilog Z80 microprocessor), Olivetti electric typewriter (Olivetti)), monitor, and diskette drives (5.25 inch). The museum has an NDS-1000, model 1000, serial number 00202-01.
Historical Context: Nelma Data Corporation was a desktop computer manufacturer based in Mississauga Ontario. In 1982, the company announced its Persona desktop computer (the NDC 100 Persona). In Fall 1983, the computer was shown at computer expo trade show COMDEX'83 held in Las Vegas, and advertised as "the professional small business computer." The Persona was distributed through ComputerLand which, at that time, was possibly the world’s largest computer retail chain. Since its introduction in August 1981, the IBM Personal Computer (model 5150, commonly referred to as the IBM PC) had been rapidly gaining in popularity despite the fact that it operated under little known DOS operating system from Microsoft instead of the popular CP/M operating system from Digital Research. The main idea behind the Persona's development was to offer an affordable desktop computer with capabilities (and appearance) similar to that of the IBM PC but running CP/M instead of DOS. Later, to deal with the popularity of the IBM PC and rapidly expanding IBM PC clone market, Nelma offered a hardware kit to turn the Persona into an IBM PC compatible computer. The Nelma Persona was designed by Jose Laraya -- the same engineer who in the early 1970s was leading the design of the MCM/70 personal computer at Micro Computer Machines of Toronto. Technical specifications: CPU: Zilog Z80A RAM: 64Kb external storage: two 180Kb floppy drives ports: serial and parallel keyboard: QWERTY-style, detachable, with keypad and 11 program function keys display: a stand alone 12 inch CRT, monochrome (green) Nelma offered a range of optional hardware for Persona including: Intel 8086 processor kit 360Kb floppy diskette drives 10Mb Winchester hard drive additional 64Kb or 128Kb RAM high resolution color graphics Software: CP/M operating system version 2.2, Digital Research WordStar word processor, MicroPro MailMerge mailing list handler, MicroPro CalcStar spreadsheet, MicroPro InfoStar database, MicroPro SpellStar spelling checker, MicroPro MBasic, Microsoft Persona communications package, Nelma Persona Professional Accounting, Nelma The museum has a NDC 100 Persona (serial number 8300321) with a keyboard and monitor. It was manufactured in March 1983.
Nortel Europa (description courtesy of Mobile Phone Museum) The Nortel One (also known as the Europa handset) was an early instance of what’s come to be known as a ‘smartphone’, developed to show off the future that Nortel envisioned as a product family it called the Orbitor. Work on the Orbitor vision started at Bell-Northern Research (Nortel’s R&D subsidiary) in the early 1990s with a series of concept models focusing on what a handheld personal communicator could be like. Once this proof-of-concept was validated through extensive user and chooser research, the design for Nortel One started apace in early 1995. It used the GSM radio and physical interface module from theNortel 92x/1920 phones with a digital signal processor (DSP) core for speech recognition and added an ARM processor module that interfaced with the touchscreen and powered the screen user interface. The first working units, of which 80 were made, were delivered at the end of February 1998 in time for the GSM World Congress in Cannes, France. The development of the Nortel One device was primarily a skunk works project undertaken at Nortel's Bell-Northern Research (BNR). It required the incorporation of many new technologies, overcoming internal corporate process challenges at Nortel, and managing a variety of logistics issues that the team working on the product had to address. The project largely flew under the radar at Nortel but succeeded thanks to a dedicated multi-disciplinary design team drawing on broad expertise at BNR (Ottawa, Canada) and AEG Mobile Communication (Ulm, Germany), then part of Matra-Nortel. Initially, the prototype devices were going to be manufactured at an AEG factory in Berlin, but the manufacturing was moved to an SCI factory in Bordeaux, France where the final units were built. When it was originally conceived, the Nortel Orbitor was envisaged as being a “highly featured, pocket-sized wireless device” that would use advanced voice-recognition technology and a touch-sensitive screen to deliver voice, messaging and graphical notes in “one convenient, easy-to-use mobile communications devices.” The team working on the device boldly claimed they were “creating a new vision of personal communications for this decade [the 1990s] and into the next century.” They made it clear that the Orbitor was not a telephone, pager or a personal digital assistant (PDA) but that it was “something new, different and unique.” They preferred to describe it as being part of “a new category of personal communications management products that would put the user in control of emerging services and applications.” The original idea for the Orbitor was to be a compact, lightweight personal device, about the size of a wallet, that would be attached to a person’s clothing or easily fit in a pocket or handbag. The early design ideas centred on users being able to “dial” a number by simply speaking a number or a person’s name – a concept, that at the time, seemed like science fiction. Early concept models also included a detachable speaker that was designed to fit over a user’s ear “for handsfree operation and private conversations” – akin to a detachable Bluetooth headset that would come in later years. Nortel also envisaged that the Orbitor would support multimedia capabilities allowing users to communicate in different ways. For example, sending written messages to one person while having a call with another at the same time – yet another example of a use-case that is now taken for granted. Another revolutionary feature of the Orbitor was the use of animation in the user interface rather than plain text and static graphics – a capability that was only just starting to emerge on PCs at that time. The graphics on the Orbitor were animated offering an early example of skeuomorphic design – which mimics real-world experiences in the user interface. For example, when a message was received, an envelope moved onto the Orbitor’s screen and when the user selected it, the envelope unfolded to reveal the message. When the user deleted the message, the paper crumpled up and dropped off the bottom of the screen. The designers believed these “real-world images would make the Orbitor extremely easy to use by attracting user’s attention to the action being performed in a clear, unambiguous and memorable fashion.” A further example, that is also taken for granted these days, was when the Orbitor played a voice message an animated slider on a bar moved across the display. Users could use the touch screen to stop the message and play back portions of it by touching the bar at the appropriate position. Another innovation was offering “canned messages” such as “leave a voice msg.” or “call back to reschedule” so users could respond discreetly to calls when they were in a meeting or otherwise occupied. The early concepts of the Orbitor were validated starting in late 1992, using industrial design models in videos where various users were seen using the Orbitor in real-life situations. This was a smart approach as it avoided the costly and time-consuming process of building working prototypes. Screen simulations were super-imposed onto the devices used in the video which were so realistic at the time that some viewers thought the Orbitor models being used were real products. More details of the Orbitor concepts and underlying research can be found in the article that featured in the BNR in-house magazine, Telesis, Issue 97, December 1993. The first reveal of a functioning Orbitor device occurred in the BNR Futures Room at Nortel’s booth at Telecom’95 in Geneva, Switzerland. It was a fully featured device with a GSM radio, large 320 x 160-pixel eight-shade greyscale touch-sensitive screen and a graphical user interface, combined with advanced voice dialling and personal hands-free capabilities that had been pioneered on the Nortel 922 mobile phone. The prototype was powered by General Magic's MagicCap OS. This demo garnered intense interest and was successful enough to give Nortel the confidence to progress down the road towards a commercial product. The Orbitor concept became the Europa device, which was eventually branded commercially as the Nortel One. By 1997, the design team decided to replace the MagicCap OS with Microware’s OS-9 combined with P-Java (a.k.a. Personal Java). The use of Java pioneered the notion of downloadable applications (today known as “apps”) to further personalize the user experience. The Nortel One worked in conjunction with the “Nortel One Server” which these days would be described as a “cloud platform”, or perhaps even an “app store". This allowed operators to provide customised data and services to users, including personalised menus and home screens, as well as being able to deliver apps in the form of Java applets. Users could back up their phones to the server. Nortel believed that typical applications that would be offered on the Nortel One could include timetables and schedules, restaurant guides, stock prices, sports results, road and traffic information, ticketing, work scheduling and more. All types of content that are commonplace today. The phone had a range of features including text entry using the stylus either via character recognition or a soft keyboard, a “business card style directory”, a rudimentary browser with virtual buttons (tiles) that allowed users to access content and PIM (personal information manager) capabilities. The handset had a range of features including text entry using the stylus either via character recognition or a soft keyboard, a “business card style directory”, a rudimentary browser with virtual buttons (tiles) that allowed users to access content and PIM (personal information manager) capabilities, integrated speech recognition for voice-activated dialling, and a personal speakerphone. A novel sliding keypad preserved the familiar 3-by-4 cellphone keypad with SEND and END buttons— when slid open the large touch-sensitive display was revealed. The first 80 pre-production handsets were manufactured in February 1998 to be showcased at the GSM World Congress trade show that month in Cannes, France by members of the Nortel team, including Ken Blakeslee. The Nortel One appeared again at the CeBIT fair in Hannover, Germany in March 1998. Initially, Nortel had planned to showcase the device as a major feature on its exhibition stand. However, the decision was taken to move the prototype devices to a back room away from public view. They were demoed by invitation to a few selected customers and industry personnel (including Nokia's Anssi Vanjoki) who were hugely impressed by the device with its futuristic capabilities such as weather data on a greyscale map with real-time data being transferred over SMS. Nortel was also secretly working with the UK’s BT Cellnet to deploy the Nortel One offering a complete end-to-end solution combining the handset and a server solution hosting Java applications that could be downloaded onto the device. The team at BT Cellnet comprised several individuals including Simon Robinson, Tony Eales, Brian Greasley and others. The trial was destined to take place following GSM World Congress in 1998 with a goal of launching in the summer of 1998. The device and service portfolio was also shown to a number of retailers including Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone. Sadly, the BT Cellnet trial never came to fruition when John Roth, the then CEO of Nortel, abruptly ended the project. He felt that Nortel lacked the expertise required to be successful in consumer electronics devices and would not be able to hit the price points needed to be successful. Ultimately, this meant the future commercial iteration of the phone never came to market, but it has become a notable (albeit little-known) device in the history of the smartphone. Interestingly the patents and prior art that Nortel created around the Orbitor project have gone on to feature in several court cases concerning intellectual property in mobile phones, reflecting what a ground-breaking device it was for its time. Addendum: Nortel Europa — historical context (by Z. Stachniak) Integration of different, often disparate, functionalities within a single personal device, as exemplified by the smartphone, is not a new concept. In the 16th century, crucifix dials served as instruments to determine the time of day. These were small boxes in the shape of a crucifix typically crafted from brass and engraved with hour numbers and religious scenes. A built-in magnetic compass was used primarily, though not exclusively, to orient the instrument. It also aided in determining directions while traveling. Some of these dials incorporated other functionalities such as the conversion of "Italian hours" (24 hours of a day and night) into "common hours" (1 to 12 day hours) and vice versa carried on using built-in rulers. Thus, the dial addressed temporal and spiritual needs, provided secular guidance and helped to contemplate things eternal. 16th century crucifix dial made by Melchior Reichle. Source: The British Museum, museum number 1874,0727.3. The rapid advancements in microelectronics during the 1970s and 1980s enabled the integration of multiple information management functionalities into single handheld devices, such as electronic organizers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The Psion Organizer, released in 1984, offered users an electronic diary, searchable address database, flat-file database, calculator, and clock, as well as the execution of application programs and limited programmability. The Psion Organizer, 1984. Source: York University Computer Museum. In the same year, Motorola introduced the DynaTAC 8000X phone, recognized as the first commercially available portable handheld cell phone. It offered approximately 30 minutes of talk time on full charge and limited call management features. The immediate social acceptance of PDAs and cell phones contributed to the popularization of the concept of personal, portable communication and information management devices. It was inevitable that sooner or later, a new generation of personal electronic devices combining PDA-like functionality with mobile telephony into a single device would emerge, and several companies began to work on such projects, including IBM (the Simon smartphone launched in 1994), Nokia (the Communicator released in 1996), and Alcatel (the One Touch Com introduced in 1998). Notably, BNR began its work on its vision for such a device (known as the Orbitor) in 1992. Comprehensive market research was conducted to identify the types of products and services that would address crucial user needs through the use of such devices, as well as key user values for personal communications and data management. The Orbitor project was initiated by the BNR's Corporate Design Group which aimed at defining and implementing a new vision for personal communications. Initially, the device was envisaged as compact, lightweight, personal device—the size of the wallet—that would attach to a person's clothing or fit easily into a packet or purse. Offering voice, messaging, and graphical notes capabilities, Orbitor would be operated via voice-recognition capabilities and a touch-sensitive screen. Users could "dial" a telephone number simply by speaking a number or a person's name (provided that name has been entered in the personal directory) into the Orbitor's microphone. Orbitor would be designed with a detachable speaker that would fit comfortably over a user's ear for hands-free operation and private conversation. Orbitor would also be equipped with a detachable stylus to enable users to write messages, destined for other users, directly on the screen. As envisaged, Orbitor would also incorporate a multimedia capability that would let users communicate in different ways with more than one party at a time -- sending written messages to one person, while carrying on a voice conversation with another, for example. [1] One of the Orbitor's concept designs. Source: [1]. The concept was first visualized in 1992 through videos produced by BNR as part of their extensive behavioural research. A variety of potential communication services were demonstrated by simulating them on a non-operational mock-up of the device. During the following three years, the Orbitor's design progressed to a state where its main features could be showcased in a working prototype. “We’ve been talking about and working with this concept for some time now, and we wanted to show our customers that its market implementation is not that far away," explained Arlan Anderson, manager of BNR's Portable Terminals Platform Development, in a press release from 1995 [2]. "We decided the best way to do that was to develop an operational prototype that could be demonstrated on a real switch.” In October 1995, such a technology demo was prepared for the Telecom ’95 trade show held in Geneva, Switzerland. "I was recruited/tasked to create a tiger team to create a working demo that could be put on display at T’95," recollected David Cuddy, former director of Nortel's Advanced Terminals Technologies group [3]. "This wasn’t a prototype of a product. It was a technology demo, or more accurately perhaps, a concept demo. What we built wasn’t based on Java - that design decision came later - but used the Magic Cap platform created by General Magic. [...] Given the positive response from prospective NT customers and trade journalists who saw our T’95 Orbitor demo, a decision was subsequently made to launch a product development program." The Orbitor's demonstration—among four special presentations featured at the BNR Futures Room at Nortel’s Telecom ’95 booth—showcased simultaneous voice and data communications through the DMS GSM system at Nortel's booth. “We demonstrated new audio and acoustic values that we call “Personal Handsfree,” which allow you to conduct a high-quality telephone conversation without having to hold the handset to your head," Arlan added [2]. "We also demonstrated several different types of messaging – handwritten messages, voice mail, and text messaging – accessed through the handset display.” During the 10-day event, the Orbitor demo was shown to over 800 customers and key government officials. According to Arlan, feedback was overwhelmingly positive: There is a lot of excitement around personal communications services in general, and people were very enthusiastic about what they saw and heard. The need for the types of user values exhibited by the Orbitor prototype was clearly acknowledged. In particular, the service providers noted the potential of Orbitor as a new wireless communications format that can help them evolve their business and differentiate themselves from competitors, Des Ryan, senior product design manager, Corporate Design Group, concurred. “The prototype enabled our customers to experience a future of their business where high-value services will be very easy to use, and showed that this future is within reach today.” [2] In the following two years, the Orbitor's design foundations underwent major transformation driven by many factors, most notably the commercialization of the Internet and the introduction of Sun Microsystems' Java. In 1986, NSF created its NSFNET network which soon became the primary Internet backbone. However, the network's mandate limited its usage exclusively to research and educational support endeavors. The "privatization of the Internet" culminating in NSF's retirement of its network in 1995, widely expanded Internet accessibility and paved the way for a wide range of new services from personal and corporate websites to e-commerce platforms. The release of Java 1.0 software in 1996 marked another pivotal factor impacting Orbitor's development. The BNR design team promptly recognized the significance of Sun's platform as an enabler of a vast array of sophisticated communications services. Consequently, in the same year, BNR decided to implement Orbitor as a Java-enabled device code-named "Europa" — the first personal communications device of this kind. In an article for Talking Business magazine back in 1996, Ken Blakeslee, former head of the Business Development team at Nortel's Wireless Networks UK office, observed, "People understand what they want to do with mobile phones. It's only now that the technology arrived to enable it." The Europa handset, later rebranded as “Nortel One” [5], was officially unveiled during the 1998 GSM World Congress in Cannes in February 1998 and, a month later demonstrated at the CeBIT'98 International Trade Fair that took place in Hanover. The device had evolved into a full Java-enabled smartphone, running Microware OS-9 as the core operating system. It offered an advanced touch-sensitive graphical user interface, speech recognition, personal handsfree, and other advanced features. In addition, thanks to the Java underpinnings, it supported downloadable ‘apps’ as part of a client-server architecture. Sadly, as part of Nortel corporate refocusing, the Orbitor/Europa project was abruptly terminated in 1998. Nortel subsequently withdrew from the telephone handset market, divesting its portfolio of GSM, wireless, enterprise and landline telephones. The Advanced Terminal Technologies group was dismissed in 2000, and the following year, Nortel shut down the entire Corporate Design Group. Several groups within Nortel/BNR and outside companies participated in the Orbitor/Europa project including: Corporate Design Group, Nortel, Advanced Terminal Technologies Group, Nortel, Nortel Wireless Networks, UK, Marta Communication Cellular Terminals, France, AEG Mobile Communications, Germany, Sun Microsystems, USA. In 1997, over 50 contributors from various BNR/Nortel groups and departments involved in the R&D project signed a commemorative Europa poster. Nortel Europa poster, 1997. Source: York University Computer Museum. References [1] Brown, M., Fairless, J., French-St.George, M., Lindsay, M., Roberts, T., and Ryan, D.,"Orbitor: a new personal communications concept," Telesis 97 (1993), pp. 5--13. [2] Orbitor, Nortel press release(?) (1995). [3] David Cuddy, private communication (2024). [4] Talking Business Magazine, Sun Microsystems (1996). [5] Nortel One: Nortel's Multimedia & Service Delivery Solution, promotional brochure, Nortel (1998) . Nortel Europa main features and technical specifications (as of 1998) Main features: Java-powered cellular handset: Java enabled secure access to data from both the Internet and local Intranets, touch screen graphical user interface with handwriting character recognition and animated graphics (operated via touch, stylus, and keypad) business card style directory, ink notes: set-to-set ink messaging, allowing to send electronic hand written notes, diagrams, etc. from one device to another, text editor, built in help facility, Personal Information Manager (PIM) functions, integrated message center including SMS, voice, fax, e-mail, as well as notification and voice-mail interface, Internet browsing: Inpact browser, voice activated dialing, hands-free operation. Hardware specifications: motherboard: based on the Nortel 920 and 922 handsets, daughter card (the Europa Daughter Card, a.k.a. the EDC) containing: CPU, RAM, Intel Flash, and other components, CPU: Digital Equipment Corp. StrongARM SA-1100, RAM: 524,288 x 8-bit, implemented using eight Mitsubishi M5M5408ATP static RAM chips, flash memory: several types including Intel StrataFlash T28F800 and boot sector flash memory AMD AM29LV002B, SIM card: micro SIM, wireless network protocol: GSM, TI Gemini processor(?), keyboard: sliding, 20 keys (12 alphanumeric and 8 direction, phone, and function keys), display: 320x160 pixels touch screen, back-lit, 8-shade grey scale, controlled by the National Semiconductor COP472-3 liquid crystal display controller, audio-analog front end: Philips UCB 1200 (aka Betty), dimensions: 166x64x30, weight: 300g. Software: operating system: Microware OS-9, Personal Java platform, compliant with Java Telephony Application Programming Interface (JTAPI) ver. 1.2, GUI written in Java, variety of planned downloadable user applications, including: timetables/schedules, work scheduling, What's-on-Guide, restaurant guides, ticketing, stock prices, e-commerce, sports results, road and traffic information. Museum holdings Nortel Europa 900, SN 004900 01 015129 0, Telesis, Nortel, issues 93, (December 1993) and 103 (July 1997), Nortel One: Nortel's Multimedia & Service Delivery Solution, promotional brochure, Nortel (1998), other Orbitor related holdings can be reviewed in the museum's Nortel archive, A 1997 commemorative Europa poster.
Historical context By Z. Stachniak with input from D. Cuddy In February 1981, telecommunications giant Northern Telecom announced the Displayphone – a landmark office automation product designed to integrate voice and data in a convenient, easy-to-use desktop unit. The January 1988 Datapro Research Corporation's report described the Displayphone as a device that: opened up the integrated voice/data terminal market [...] The first commercially available device of this kind, the Displayphone [...] attracted a great deal of attention in the computer industry, particularly among workstation vendors. Many vendors were interested in bringing their products to executive desks; thus the Displayphone was a factor in the emergence of a new class of equipment – executive/professional workstation. The Displayphone was developed by Bell-Northern Research in Ottawa and manufactured by Northern Telecom. Its first model–the NT6K00–was a small desktop terminal with a handset, speakerphone, an integrated 300 bps modem, built-in 7-inch monochrome display, dial and screen pad, and five soft keys. A retractable QWERTY-style keyboard was stored within the unit's base. The device could operate with two independent phone lines for simultaneously handling voice and data calls which allowed users to talk on the phone while accessing and viewing information from remote dial-up data services. In addition, the unit could be used as a data terminal connected to a local computer via the RS 232C port. It could also access database services via an external modem and drive a printer through a parallel I/O interface. The Displayphone featured a 90-number telephone directory, on-hook as well as automatic and hands-free dialing, last number redial, a recall work list and call hold. Other features available were a continuous day/date clock, a telephone call timer, and a reminder service that brought messages to the user's attention. The user interace was designed for ease of use, with context-sensitive prompts displayed on the screen and soft keys that led the user from one operation to another. Between 1981 and 1986, Northern Telecom released several models of and upgrades to the Displayphones, including the PLUS (released in 1984) and the 220 (offered in October 1986). Another variant, the SL-1 Displayphone, when designed to access the voice and data capabilities of Northern Telecom's popular SL-1 PBX. By the mid-1980s, Northern Telecom had already faced competition from other vendors including AT&T, Davox, InteCom/Wang, and Rolm. Nevertheless, the Displayphone continued to have the largest installed bases of any of the competing products, which, according to the 1988 Datapro Research report, was at around 50,000 in 1987. Following the success of the Displayphone in the enterprise market, NT proceeded to develop its successor–the Meridian M4020 Integrated Terminal–which was released in 1985. Instead of a pair of analog telephone interfaces, the M4029 connected to the network over an integrated 2.56Mbps digital interface. Displayphone NT6K00 technical specifications CPU: Intel 8085, 8-bit, ROM: 40KB with Displayphone firmware, keyboard: QWERTY, retractable, stored within the unit's base, dial and screen pad: built-in, containing 12 dial keys, 5 softkeys, and 12 programmed keys, display: 7in, 24 lines, 40 or 80 characters/line, with the 25th line used for labeling of softkeys, voice ports: two analog PSTN phone lines, integrated Bell 103-type modem, data ports: RS 232C (connection to a local computer or external, modem), parallel I/O port (for printer), transmission rates: from 75 to 1200 baud for RS 232C and from 65 to 300 boud for dialup, peripherals: Displayjet printer. Museum's holdings Displayphone NT6K00 AA (1982), Displayphone NT1K00 AA, serial number 1271004601 (1982), Displayphone NT6K90 AC, serial number 29E0004529 (1984), Displayphone User Guide, Northern Telecom, June 1981, Displayphone, The integrated voice and data telephone concept from Bell Canada, Bell Canada, 198? Displayphone User Guide, Northern Telecom, February 1982, Sources Datapro Report C25-662-102 (Terminals), Datapro Research Corp., January 1988, Displayphone User Guide, Northern Telecom, June 1981, Displayphone User Guide, Northern Telecom, February 1982.
The DY-4 Orion V Computer, model (?), serial number ORV8023008. The computer was designed around the the STD-bus architecture and featured two built-in 8" diskette drives. It required an external display and a keyboard (such as the DY-4 VGT-100 or VGT-100H graphic terminals). The Orion V was offered as a stand alone desktop or as a rack-mountable hardware. Hardware: CPU: Zilog Z80A RAM: 64 Kbytes expandable to 256 Kbytes diskette drives: double sided, double density diskettes, 600 Kbytes per disk expansion: up to 12 STD bus cards Software: OS: CP/M 2.2 systems: System Debug Monitor Note: The Orion V in the museum's collection was used at the University of Ottawa and had the assigned name Pegasus.
The Pied Piper was designed in the early 1980s by Semi-Tech Microelectronics Corp. (STM) and advertised as a portable, low-cost, versatile business computer. It was sold with the Perfect Software package. The Pied Piper consisted of a CPU unit in plastic enclosure with a built-in keyboard and a single diskette drive. The computer had a keyboard cover which enhanced the computer's portability. It could use any standard TV set or a monitor as a display terminal. In 1983, the Pied Piper was shown at the NCC show in Anaheim, California and at the Fall Comdex show in Las Vegas. The computer operated under the CP/M 2.2 OS and was sold with software package from Perfect Software Inc. Optional software included MBASIC (Microsoft), dBase II (Ashton-Tate), WordStar (MicroPro International), and Multiplan (Microsoft). Hardware: CPU: Z80A CPU RAM: 64 Kbytes VRAM: 2 Kbytes ROM: 8 Kbytes display: text mode only (24 lines x 40 or 80 characters), 16 colors keyboard: QWERTY, 62 keys ports: serial RS232C port, parallel printer port, RF Modulator port, external diskette drive port diskette drive: 5.25 inch (164 Kbytes, formatted) expandability: expansion for two boards, optional external diskette drive, interface for hard drive The museum has a Pied Piper, model PPC 001, serial number 100983189 and the following software and documentation: Software and Documentation: PerfectWriter (with manual), Perfect Software (1983) PerfectSpeller (with manual), Perfect Software (1983) PerfectCalc (with manual), Perfect Software (1983) PerfectFiler (with manual), Perfect Software (1983) Modem Master (with Modem Communications Manual), Semi-Tech Microelectronics (1983) The computer was purchased on December 17th, 1983 at Gladstone Electronics -- one of the most popular computer stores in Toronto in the early 1980s.
Digital image used to advertise "The Portraits of Digital Canada" exhibit at York University.
Derived from a photograph by George Dunbar.
Photograph taken by George Dunbar for IBM Canada.