2 10 106 https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/7fea73e3682003d24ee65a0105908576.jpg bc5cbb95695dc1734c2ca3e35cd1e182 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Micro Computer Machines Collection Description An account of the resource <div>In April, 1972, Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, California, announced its first 8-bit microprocessor — the 8008. In just a few months, the prototypes of the first general purpose computers powered by the 8008 chip were already working on site at the French company Réalisations et Études Électroniques located in the suburbs of Paris and at Micro Computer Machines (MCM) with headquarters situated on the outskirts of Toronto. These firms fully recognized, articulated, and acted upon the immense potential of the budding microprocessor technology for the development of a new generation of cost effective computing systems. However, it was MCM which built and, later, manufactured the first microprocessor-based computer designed specifically for personal use — the first PC. MCM's first computer—the MCM/70—was designed in the period between 1972 and 73 and announced on September 25, 1973, in Toronto. The computer was unveiled in New York on September 27th and, the following day, in Boston. One of its early prototypes was demonstrated in May of 1973 during the Fifth International APL Users' Conference in Toronto. The MCM/70 computers were purchased in North America and Europe by acedemic institutions as well as large organizations and companies including Chevron Oil Research Company, Firestone, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission, NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, and U.S. Army. The MCM/70 was followed by the MCM/700 (1975), /800 (1976), /900 (1977), the Power (1980) computers.</div> <div> Acquisition: The objects in the collection have been donated by E.M. Edwards Estate, A. Arpen, R. Bernecky, R. Elliott, L. Gladstone, M. Kutt, J. Laraya, G. Ramer, R. Rea, G. Seeds, M. Smyth, Z. Stachniak, and J. Woods. HARDWARE <ul> <li>Early MCM/70 prototype (based on Intel SIM8-01) (1972)</li> <li>Memory board from the rack-mounted MCM/70 prototype (1972)</li> <li>MCM/70 Executive (1973)</li> <li>early MCM/70 ROM board (1973?)</li> <li>MCM/70 Model 708 computer (1974)</li> <li>MCM/70 power supply (1974?)</li> <li>MCM printer, Model MCP 132 N (1975)</li> <li>DDS-1000 Diskette Subsystem (1975)</li> <li>MPD-1000 Diskette Subsystem (1975)</li> <li>A prototype of an MCM/700 variant designed by E.E. Edwards (1975?)</li> <li>MCM/800 Model 808 computer (1976)</li> <li>A prototype of an MCM/800 variant designed by E.E. Edwards (1977?)</li> <li>MCM/900 Model 924 computer (1978)</li> <li>MCM Micro Power Model 524 computer (1981)</li> </ul>  SOFTWARE  <ul> <li>MCM/70 Mathematics Library, May 7, 1974</li> <li>MCM/70 Statistics Library, May 7, 1974</li> <li>MCM/70 Finance Library, May 7, 1974</li> <li>MCM/70 Electricity and Electrical Engineering Library, May 7, 1974</li> <li>MCM/70 Fun and Games Library, May 7, 1974</li> <li>APL A* code listings, June 4, 1980</li> </ul>  MANUALS and GUIDES   <ul> <li>MCM/70 Introductory Manual, Micro Computer Machines (1973)</li> <li>J. Morgan Smyth, MCM/70 User's Guide, Micro Computer Machines (1974) (spiral bounded preprint)</li> <li>J. Morgan Smyth, MCM/70 User's Guide , Micro Computer Machines, Toronto and Kingston (1974)</li> <li>MCM/70 Installation Guide, MCM (1974?)</li> <li>MCM/70 Desk Top Computer, Distributor Service Manual, Preliminary issue, Micro Computer Machines (September 1974)</li> <li>MCP-132 (HyType) Printer Operating Guide, MCM (July 1975)</li> <li>MCM/APL Reference Cards, MCM (1976 and May 1981)</li> <li>SCI-1200 Communications Sub-System, Installation Instructions and Reference Manual, MCM (1976?)</li> <li>MCP-132 Printer User's Guide, rev. 1 (June 1, 1977)</li> <li>DDS-500 Dual Disk System User Guide [preliminary], Micro Computer Machines (June 8, 1977)</li> <li>MCM System/800 Utilities Manual, rev. AA, MCM (August 1977)</li> <li>MCM Computers System 800: Using The MCM Computer as a Terminal and Transferring Data to and from APL Plus, manual nr. 018 033, rev. AA, MCM (January 1978)</li> <li>VDU-9620 Reference Manual, MCM (August 1978)</li> <li>DDS-1000 Diskette Drive User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (October 1978)</li> <li>TEXT/900 Word Processing System, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AC (November 1978)</li> <li>MCM/900 User's Manual, rev. AB, MCM (December 1978)</li> <li>MCM LIB/8 System Documentation [describes a collection of APL functions which facilitate the creation and maintenance of a library of user application packages for the MCM/800], Micro Computer Machines (197?)</li> <li>FAS: Financial Accounting System User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd. (197?)</li> <li>Fast Functions on the MCM/900, MCM Computers Ltd. (197?)</li> <li>FAS: Financial MCM System/900 Utilities Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (February 1979)</li> <li>MCM System/900 Utilities Manual, rev. AA, MCM (February 1979)</li> <li>Communications Subsystem Reference Manual, rev. AB, MCM Computers Ltd. (March 1979)</li> <li>MCM/900 User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AC (May 1979)</li> <li>TEXT/900 With Data Files, Supplementary Documentation, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (July 1979)</li> <li>CAS-900 Client Accounting System, MCM Computers Ltd. (September 19, 1979)</li> <li>DCS: Data Communication System User's Guide, version 3, MCM Computers Ltd. (April 1980)</li> <li>Small Business System: Programmer's Reference Manual, version 1, MCM Computers Ltd. (August 1980)</li> <li>MCM/APL User's Guide, preliminary release, MCM Computers Ltd. (September 1980)</li> <li>Client Accounting System, General Ledger, Accounting Reports, MCM Computers Ltd. (February 1981)</li> <li>Client Accounting System, Time and Charges, MCM Computers Ltd. (February 1981)</li> <li>924/1024 System Technical Manual [preliminary], MCM (February 27, 1981)</li> <li>[]ZZ System Functions User's Guide, preliminary release, MCM Computers Ltd. (March 31, 1981)</li> <li>A Fast []FNT Type Numeric Formatter, MCM Computers Ltd., 7 pages (1 May, 1981)</li> <li>Power Mail: Message Processing Facility, MCM (May 1981)</li> <li>POWER Utilities User's Guide, preliminary release, MCM Computers Ltd. (June 1981)</li> <li>Distributor Announcement, No. 44, MCM (May 11, 1982)</li> </ul>  CORPORATE DOCUMENTS      1971  <ul> <li>Hypothecation of Shares and Purchase of Shares Agreements Between Gordon Ramer and Merslau Kutt (December 28, 1971)</li> <li>Kutt Systems, Inc., Micro Computer Machines Inc., and MCM Computers Ltd. corporate data, Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Toronto, file number 251340 (copy on micro-fish)</li> <li>Intel's Invoice for: SIM4-01, MP7-01, and MCS-4 chip set to be sent to Mers Kutt, December 28, 1971</li> <li>Intel's Form of Invoice for: SIM4-01, MP7-01, and MCS-4 chip set to be sent to Mers Kutt, signed by Hank Smith, December 28, 1971</li> </ul>       1972 <ul> <li>Intel, Shipping Request for SIM4-01, SIM8-01, MP7-02, to be delivered to Mers Kutt, May 12, 1972</li> <li>Intel, Packing Slip for SIM4-01, SIM8-01, MP7-02, to be delivered to Mers Kutt, May 12, 1972</li> <li>Intel's Form of Invoice for: SIM4-01, SIM8-01, MP7-02, to be sent to Kutt Systems Inc., May 12, 1972</li> <li>Intel's Form of Invoice for: SIM8-01 to be sent to Kutt Systems Inc., May 23, 1972</li> <li>Minutes of the Special General Meeting of the Shareholders of KUTT SYSTEMS INC., Saturday, November 11, 1972, 1 page</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1972 Financial Statements (draft), 7 pages</li> <li>Letter from Hal Fenney (Intel) to Mers Kutt, October 4, 1972 [re SIM8-01 board], 1 page</li> <li>Note from Hank Smith (Intel) to Mers Kutt, October 4, 1972 [re SIM8-01 board], 1 page</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1972 Financial Statements, 7 pages</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Company Certificate from the Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto (April 17, 1972)</l i></li> </ul>        1973 <ul> <li>Collection of design documents of two MCM/70 prototypes (April-July, 1973)</li> <li>Agreement to Purchase and Transfer Stock (March 7, 1973?)</li> <li>Receipt for MCM shares purchase (April 5, 1973)</li> <li>Portfolio of MCM Shareholder Documents (May 7 and May 14, 1973)</li> <li>Agreement between G. Ramer and M. Kutt, 4 pages (May 16, 1973) Letter to MCM shareholders, signed Mers Kutt, President, 2 pages (August 24, 1973)</li> <li>Letter from Micro Computer Machines to Canadian Consulates, signed Mers Kutt, President, 2 pages (November 1, 1973)</li> <li>Letter to MCM shareholders, signed Mers Kutt, President, 1 page (November 1973)</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1973 Interim Financial Statements (unedited), 6 pages</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1973 Financial Statements, 6 pages</li> <li>Collection of MCM corporate information documents (1973)</li> <li>Collection of Kutt Systems Inc. and MCM Inc. Corporate Documents (1973)</li> </ul>        1974 <ul> <li>MCM corporate information, 31 pages, 1974</li> <li>Letter to potential users of MCM products, February 1974, signed by Peter J. Wolfe, Manager, Business Systems, 1 page.</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Purchase Order no 10199 [for Intel's MCS8s], March 1, 1974, 1 page</li> <li>Data Device Corporation price list for MCM products, May 13, 1974, 1 page</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, May 17, 1974, signed ?, Secretary</li> <li>Data Device Corporation quotation for an MCM/70 system, May 21, 1974, signed Ted Berg, Vice President, 1 page</li> <li>Letter to shareholders of Micro Computer Machines Inc,. May 28, 1974, signed Mers Kutt, President, 2 pages</li> <li>"To the members of the Board of Directors of Micro Computer Machines Inc.", a memorandum signed by 21 MCM empolyees, August 1, 1974, 3 pages</li> <li>Letter from Micro Computer Machines Inc. to APL'ers, 1974(?), signed Ted Berg, President, 1 page</li> </ul>        1975 <ul> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Jun 13, 1975</li> <li>Letter to potential users of MCM products, 1975(?) [re the announcement of the IBM 5100], signed Ted Berg, President, 1 page</li> <li>Letter from Ted Berg to Sales Representatives "Notice of Upcoming Product Features", November 27, 1975, signed T.M. Berg, 1 page</li> <li>MCM employment documents for E. Edwards</li> </ul>        1976 <ul> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Jun 21, 1976</li> <li>Letter from Borden and Elliot to Gordon Ramer, November 26, 1976, 2 pages</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Common Shares, issued in 1976</li> <li>MCM/700 Configuration, technical specification, May 7, 1976</li> </ul>        1977 <ul> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Jun 24, 1977</li> <li>Letter from Borden and Elliot to Gordon Ramer, March 9, 1977, 2 pages</li> <li>Agreement to Purchase and Transfer Ownership of Stock, October 29, 1977</li> </ul>        1978 <ul> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Jun 8, 1978</li> <li>Powerful New Business Computer System Introduced by MCM, MCM Computers Ltd. press release, 1978, 1 page</li> <li>MCM Computers Ltd., 1978 Auditors' Report. 8 pages</li> <li>Distributor Price List, September 27, 1978, 1 page</li> <li>Interactive Computer Systems, Inc., Price List, November 1, 1978, 2 pages</li> <li>System 800/900 Actuarial/Insurance Users, November 1978, 1 page</li> <li>Distributorship Agreement, 1978, 12 pages</li> </ul>        1979 <ul> <li>1978 Auditors' Report, February 13, 1979, 8 pages</li> <li>Canadian Price List, MCM, March 1, 1979, 2 pages</li> <li>Distributor Price List, MCM, March 1, 1979, 1 page</li> <li>Letter to shareholders of MCM Computers Ltd, May 24, 1979, 2 pages, signed C.M. Williams, President</li> <li>Notice of Correction, letter to shareholders of MCM Computers Ltd, June 4, 1979, signed B.C. Wallace, Chairman, 1 page</li> <li>MCM Computers Ltd., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, May 25, 1979, signed by W.S. Robertson, Secretary, 1 page</li> <li>MCM Computers Ltd., Proxy, May 1979, 1 page</li> <li>Representative System 800/900 Installations, May 1979, 3 pages</li> <li>Canadian Price List, MCM, July 1, 1979, 2 pages</li> <li>Distributor Price List, MCM, July 1, 1979, 2 pages</li> <li>TAS-900 Pricing, November 26, 1979, 1 page</li> <li>Cost Justification for the DMS/FAS on the System 900, MCM, 1979(?), 2 pages</li> </ul>        1980 <ul> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Jun 11, 1980</li> </ul>        1982 <ul> <li>Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, May 25, 1982, 1980</li> </ul>   MARKETING MATERIALS        1973 <ul> <li>Media/Press Release, September 28, 1973, 4 pages [the announcement of the MCM/70]</li> <li>MCM/70 Desk Top Computer, Preannouncement, Confidential Information [promotional brochure with an MCM/70 prototype on the first page], 2 double-sided pages, August 1973</li> <li>MCM/70 Desk Top Computer [promotional brochure with an MCM/70 prototype on the first page], 1 double-sided page, 1973</li> <li>The MCM/70T Intelligent Terminal [promotional brochure], 1 page, November(?) 1973</li> <li>A Sample of Quotations from Letters Received, November 1973, 2 pages [quotations from letters received by MCM re the MCM/70]</li> <li>Collage of articles on the MCM/70 prepared by MCM for shareholders, 1973, 6 pages</li> <li>Inquiries & Responses Received After Trip [to Europe with the MCM/70 prototype], 2 pages</li> </ul>        1974 <ul> <li>MCM/70 Desk Top Computer [promotional brochure with the production model of the MCM/70 on the front page], 4 double-sided pages [includes information on the MCM/70 hardware, preliminary specifications of the MCM/APL interpreter, information on the MCM/70 in science, business, and education], February 1974</li> <li>The MCM/70 in education [promotional brochure], 2 double-sided pages, 1974?</li> <li>MCM/70 Desk Top Computer [promotional brochure with the production model of the MCM/70 on the front page], 5 double-sided pages [includes information on the MCM/70 hardware, preliminary specifications of the MCM/APL interpreter, information on MCM as well as on the MCM/70 in science, business, and education], 1974</li> <li>MCM/70 Desk Top Computer, MCM/APL [promotional brochure with the production model of the MCM/70 on the front page], 5 double-sided pages [includes information on the MCM/70 hardware, preliminary specifications of the MCM/APL interpreter, information on MCM as well as on the MCM/70 in science, business, and education], 1974</li> </ul>        1975 <ul> <li>Introducing The Smallest, Least Expensive, Stand-Alone APL Desktop Computer MCM/700 [promotional brochure], 6 pages</li> <li>MCM Sales Reference, 21 pages, 1975?</li> <li>SDS-250/DDS-500 Diskette Subsystems [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1975?</li> <li>PMR-400 Card Reader [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1975?</li> <li>MCP-132 Printer/Plotter [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1975?</li> <li>Application Libraries [list of software for the /700 system], 4 pages</li> <li>Promotional letter from Peter J. Wolfe, Marketing Manager, to potential MCM clients, 2 pages.</li> <li>MCM price list, 1 page.</li> </ul>       1976 <ul> <li>MCM News, Newsletter, vol 1(?) [most likely published in the early 1976], 8 pages</li> <li>Micro Computer Machines, Inc., Distributor Information Kit, Micro Computer Machines, 1976</li> <li>System 800, [MCM Computers promotional brochure for the MCM/800 system], 6 pages</li> <li>System Software" [information on software for the MCM/800], 2 pages</li> <li>Applications Library Summary [information on software libraries for the] MCM/800, 4 pages</li> <li>PVAS A new concept for Performing Pension Actuarial Valuations and Pension Plan Administration [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 6 pages</li> <li>TEXT 800, Word Processing with System 800 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 3 pages</li> <li>TEXT 800, Word Processing with System 800 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 2 pages</li> <li>VDU-9620 Video Display For System 800 [promotional brochure], 5 pages</li> <li>< VDU-9620 Video Display For System 800 [promotional brochure], 2 pages</li> <li>MCP-132 Printer/Plotter [promotional brochure], 2 pages</li> <li>DDS-500 Diskette System [promotional brochure], 2 pages</li> <li>Here's what other Actuaries say about the MCM/800 system [promotional brochure], 6 pages</li> <li>MCM's System 800: the combination of data processing and word processing [promotional brochure], 1 page</li> <li>The MCM/800 System Software, 2 pages</li> </ul> 1977 <ul> <li>MCM FI-PLAN [the MCM/800 promotional brochure], 2 pages</li> <li>System 800 Demonstration Package, Rev. AA, October 1977, 9 pages</li> <li>O. Zimmerman, MCM/800 and APL Gain Acceptance in Insurance Applications at Crown Life, 9 pages</li> </ul> 1978 <ul> <li>MCM FI-PLAN: Sample Projection , 6 pages</li> <li>MCM 800 vs Timesharing , 6 pages</li> <li>If you spend more[...] [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages</li> <li>APL and Virtual Memory [...] [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages</li> <li>MCM 800 vs IBM 5110, 2 pages</li> <li>Introducing.... [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 4 pages</li> <li>MCM Computers: System 900 [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 4 pages</li> <li>Businesses today are faced with a maze of problems [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1978?</li> <li>APL and Virtual Memory -- two main reasons why... [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1978?</li> </ul> 1979 <ul> <li>DCS/900 Data Communications with System/900 [promotional brochure], 1 page, 1979?</li> <li>AID/900 Utilities and Libraries for System/900 [promotional brochure], 1 page, 1979?</li> <li>LIB/900 Program Development with System/900 [promotional brochure], 1 page, 1979?</li> <li>PLOT/900 Plotting Software for System/900 [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1979?</li> <li>MCM Computers System/900 [promotional brochure], 4 pages, 1979?</li> <li>System 900: The Affordable Solution [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1979?</li> <li> CAS-900 Client Accounting System [promotional brochure], 4 pages, 1979?</li> <li>TEXT/900 Word Processing with System/900 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 3 pages, 1979?</li> <li>TEXT/900 Word Processing with System/900 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 1 page, 1979?</li> <li>MCM Price Lists, 1975-79.</li> </ul>       1980 <ul> <li>Power [MCM Power promotional brochure], 4 pages, 1980?</li> <li>Product Data Sheet and Hardware Tech Spec[brochures for the MCM Power], 2 pages, 1980?</li> <li>MCM User Support Notes, May 15, 1980 -- March 20, 1981.</li> </ul>   1982 <ul> <li>CAS Price List, The Intergroup Partnership (May 1, 1982)</li> <li>Distributor Announcement No. 44, MCM Computers (May 11, 1982)</li> </ul>   PHOTOGRAPHS <ul> <li>Photograph of the MCM/70 wide-case prototype, b/w original (1973)</li> <li>Photograph of E.E. Edwards with the MCM/70 Executive, b/w original. Photograph for Politiken (1973)</li> <li>Photograph of the MCM/70, b/w original, (1973?)</li> <li>The announcement of the MCM/70, Toronto, Sep. 25, 1973 -- b/w original (Sep. 25, 1973)</li> <li>Photograph of the MCM/800 with CRT -- b/w original (1976?)</li> <li>Photograph of the MCM/900 business system -- b/w original (1978?)</li> <li>Photograph of the MCM/900 computer -- b/w original (1978?).</li> <li>The MCM/700 production line, MCM's manufacturing facility in Kingston. Photograph by Jose Laraya(?) (1975?)</li> <li>DDS-500, photograph by Jose Laraya(?) (1975?)</li> <li>3 photographs of the MCM/800 by Jose Laraya(?) (1976?)</li> <li>6 photographs of MCM team at York University (photographs of Andre Arpin, Don Genner, Mers Kutt, Morgan Smyth, Gord Ramer). Photograph by Z. Stachniak (November 2001)</li> </ul> MCM DIGITAL LIBRARY <ul> <li>Andre Arpin speaking at York University, Toronto, March 28, 2003 (audio)</li> <li>Andre Arpin, MCM/70 -- The First Portable Microcomputer presentation, York University, Toronto, March 28, 2003 (PowerPoint)</li> <li>interview with Andre Arpin, Kingston, April 10, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Don Genner, Guelph, August 31, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Mers Kutt, Toronto, March 1, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Mers Kutt, Toronto, March 6, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>Mers Kutt speaking at York University, Toronto, October 24, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Mers Kutt, Toronto, November 11, 2002 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Jose Laraya, Toronto, September 13, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Jose Laraya, Toronto, September 28, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Gordon Ramer, Toronto, March 27, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>nterview with Reg Rea, Stoney Creek, October 20, 2005 (audio)</li> <li>interview with Morgan Smyth, Toronto, July 25, 2001 (audio)</li> <li>interview with John Woods, Milton, October 22, 2008 (audio)</li> <li>e-mail communications with former users of MCM hardware</li> </ul> BOOKS, RESEARCH PAPERS, ARTICLES <ul> <li>A. Arpin, External Allocation System (EASY) / A Virtual System (AVS). In Proc. of the APL 75 Congress, Pisa, Italy (1975)</li> <li>R.F. Bauer, Implementation of APL on Small Computers. In Proc. of the APL 79 Conference, Rochester N.Y. (1979)</li> <li>B.J. Bleackley and J. LaPrairie, Entering the Computer Age. The Computer Industry in Canada: The First Thirty Years, The Book Society of Canada Ltd, 1982</li> <li>J. Chevreau, The Third Coming of Mers Kutt, Report on Business Magazine, November 1985, pp. 111--118</li> <li>M. Kutt, microcomputer development notes, (1972), 36 pages</li> <li>J. Morgan Smyth, York APL, Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Toronto (1972)</li> <li>J. Morgan Smyth, EASY and AVS: The Two Auxiliary Storage Subsystems of the MCM/70. In Proc. of the APL 75 Congress, Pisa, Italy (1975), pp. 313--319</li> <li>G. Ramer(?) York APL Users Guide, APL Systems, November 15, 1971</li> <li>Stachniak, Z. Learning from Prototypes, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 42, no. 2 (2020), pp. 63-71.</li> <li>Stachniak, Z. Software Recovery and Beyond: The MCM/70 Case, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing vol. 41, nr. 4 (2019), pp. 110-118.</li> <li>Stachniak, Z. MCM on Personal Software, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 39, no. 1 (2017), pp. 29--51.</li> <li>Z. Stachniak, The Making of the MCM/70 Microcomputer, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 25, issue 2 (April-June 2003), pp. 62--75.</li> <li>Z. Stachniak, The MCM/70 Microcomputer, Core 4.1, The Computer History Museum (September 2003), pp. 6--12</li> <li>A. Wahl, Kutt's last stand, Canadian Business (October 11--24, 2006), pp. 56--64.</li> <li>Kutt takes wraps off new minicomputer, Canadian Datasystems, October 1973, p. 49.</li> <li>A file with various articles related to MCM, 1973-2003.</li> </ul>   OTHER <ul> <li>M. Kutt Archive, 1973-74</li> <li>G. Ramer Archive, 1972-75</li> <li>R. Elliott Archive, 1975-1982</li> <li>Collection of documents concerning EE.Edwards' participation in the 1973 International APL Conference in Denmark. The collection includes an invitation from the Danish Computing Society (Jun 8, 19073), an English translation of the "Computer in a briefcase" article that appeared in Politiken on August 23, 1973, and a photograph of E.E. Edwards with the MCM/70 Executive.</li> <li>Several MCM digital cassettes</li> <li>I love APL, MCM sticker</li> <li>Pavement Management System, manual, MCM/POWER, 83 pages (198?)</li> <li>Lecture notes from an MCM seminar taken by Russell Elliott on June 9--10, 1977</li> <li>Seven files of various software printouts</li> <li>Intel 4004 uComputer; the first single board computer received by MCM from Intel in 1972</li> <li>MCM's ten-th anniversary coffee mug.</li> <li>Letter from the Chancellery of Honours Directorate, Government of Canada, concerning possible appointment of Mers Kutt to the Order of Canada, January 12, 2004.</li> </ul> </div> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Zbigniew Stachniak Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2003-2021 Subject The topic of the resource <img src="http://museum1.eecs.yorku.ca/www_decorations/MCM_logo.jpg" alt="MCM_logo" width="5%" height="5%" border="0" /> The MCM Collection documents computer development activities at Micro Computer Machines (MCM). Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource SIM8-01 based prototype of the MCM/70 Subject The topic of the resource computer hardware: microcomputer Description An account of the resource Historical context (by Z. Stachniak) The MCS-8 microcomputer set was announced by Intel in late 1971. Everyone in systems engineering has been waiting for the under \$100 computer. Today it's here! [the alternative, Intel, 1971] The set consisted of a single-chip CPU—the 8-bit 8008 microprocessor—and standard semiconductor ROM's, RAM's, and shift registers. It was the MCS-8 and, in particular, its first implementation in Intel's SIM8-01 prototyping system that generated the first wave of design activities aimed at the development of microprocessor based architectures for general purpose programmable computers. In just a few months, the prototypes of such computers powered by the 8008 chip were already working on site at the French company Réalisations et Études Électroniques located in the suburbs of Paris and at Micro Computer Machines (MCM) with headquarters situated on the outskirts of Toronto. These firms fully recognized, articulated, and acted upon the immense potential of the budding microprocessor technology for the development of a new generation of cost effective computing systems. However, it was MCM which built the first microprocessor-based computer designed specifically for personal use — the MCM/70, the first PC. The SIM8-01 was marketed as a complete prototyping system for the development of MCS-8 applications. It was offered in April 1972 and, at that time, its schematic diagram included in the premiere edition of the 8008 8-Bit Parallel Central Processor Unit manual was the only published design of an 8-bit computer with a single-chip CPU. It was inevitable that MCM would use the SIM8-01 to attempt at implementing the core features of the company's future PC. In mid-1972 MCM’s chief hardware engineer Jose Laraya built the first prototype of the MCM/70. His computer utilized an Intel SIM8-01 simulation board as well as an Intel MP7-02 Eprom programmer which was used by MCM's software engineer Gord Ramer during the development of the MCM/APL interpreter that the production model of the MCM/70 would feature. Although the SIM8-01 architecture proved inadequate to achieve MCM’s design objectives, this first prototype confirmed that building a versatile microprocessor-based computer was feasible. The official announcement of the MCM/70 came on September 25, 1973, in Toronto. Its manufacturing commenced in mid 1974. Recommended readings: <ul> <li>Stachniak, Z. <a href="http://mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=2643"> Inventing the PC: the MCM/70 Story </a>, McGill-Queen's University Press (2011).</li> <li>Stachniak, Z. Intel SIM8-01: A proto-PC IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, January-March 2007 (vol. 29 no. 1), pp. 34—48.</li> </ul> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Micro Computer Machines Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1972 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Ontario, Canada, 1972 https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/d6d85cdd2f23c420a3f0a6cff10a98c5.png c0bd3200d33f1cba19b90c1d680151d6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alias|Wavefront Maya 1.0 Subject The topic of the resource software: 3D animation and visual effects software Description An account of the resource Historical Context Since the 1950s, computer operators had used a variety of cathode ray tube (CRT) terminals for displaying information in a rudimentary graphical form during the execution of data processing tasks. Some computer users went further and, in their spare time, experimented with the use of computers and CRTs for entertainment. In 1958, an American physicist William Higinbotham created Tennis — possibly the first video game. As rudimentary as it was, it attracted much attention during visits to Brookhaven National Lab where Higinbotham was employed as an engineer in charge of instrumentation design. Then came more sophisticated video games such as Spacewar! developed in 1962 at MIT by Steve Russell in collaboration with other MIT students, as well as the first experimentation with computers for the purpose of art creation and animation. By the early 1970s, these experiments resulted in the first generation of commercial-grade computer image editing systems (such as Richard Shoup's SuperPaint, 1973) and animation programs (such as National Research Council Canada's computer animation program, 1971). These developments were possible in large part due to the advancements in computer and semiconductor industries, such as the arrival of affordable minicomputers and the introduction of semiconductor memories. Computer animation in Canada began in 1971 when the National Research Council Canada (NRC) scientists Nestor Burtnyk and Marceli Wein offered their animation software that greatly simplified a traditional and labor-intensive frame-by-frame animation process, requiring animation artists to draw every single frame. Instead, their program required an artist to draw only key frames leaving the generation of frames linking the key ones entirely to the computer. Peter Foldès was the first artist to use NRC's animation software. His 1973 film Hunger won, among other distinctions, a Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival in 1974, the Best Animated Film award at the 1975 British Academy of Film & Television Awards, and an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Academy) nomination in 1974 in the Best Animated Short Film category. In 1996, Burtnyk and Wein were presented with an Academy award for "for their pioneering work in the development of software techniques for Computer Assisted Key Framing for Character Animation." Burtnyk’s and Wein’s work was just the beginning of what would become one of the most innovative and impactful sectors in the Canadian software industry. Toronto-based Alias Systems Corporation founded in 1984, Softimage established in Montreal in 1986, and Side Effects Software incorporated in Toronto in 1987 quickly established themselves at the forefront in the development of tools supporting ever growing needs of digital artists and animators. Maya The work on Maya 3D animation and visual effects software started in 1993 at Alias Systems Corporation — the company founded a decade earlier as Alias Research by Stephen Bingham, Susan McKenna, Nigel McGrath, and David Springer. The company's early objective was to produce a practical software package for the creation of realistic 3D video animations and to support computer-aided design. Alias' first products—the Alias/1 (1985) and Alias/2 (1986) 3D software packages—were acquired by several automotive companies and employed in the production of special effects in blockbuster feature films including The Abyss — a science fiction movie awarded the Academy's Oscar for Best Visual Effects in 1989. Alias' new 3D animation software—the PowerAnimator introduced in 1990—was even more successful. It was used in the production of special effects in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and Jurassic Park (1993), earning both movies Oscars in the Best Visual Effects category. In 1994, six blockbuster films employed PowerAnimator-generated special effects: Forrest Gump, The Mask, Speed, The Flintstones, True Lies, and Star Trek: The Next Generation—A Final Unity with the Oscar awarded to Forrest Gump. The growing competition from other 3D companies as well as continuous pressure exerted by the entertainment and gaming industries upon 3D companies to deliver tools for even more realistic and sophisticated animation stimulated Alias to begin evolving its PowerAnimator into the next generation 3D animation software, Maya. In 1995, under the umbrella of Silicon Graphics, Alias merged with Santa Barbara, California-based Wavefront—another successful computer graphics company—to form Alias|Wavefront with headquarters in Toronto. This merger opened the door to an even more sophisticated world of 3D animation. In January 1998, the company released Maya Versio 1.0 — its new 3D animation software package. The software was primarily based on Alias' PowerAnimator and Wavefront's successful Advanced Visualizer. In the subsequent years, Alias|Wavefront was continuously upgrading and expanding Maya beginning with the release of Maya Builder, Maya Complete, and Maya Unlimited in 1999. "Maya Unlimited extends the realm of possibility for digital artists who want to shape the frontier of advanced 3D technology," stated Alias|Wavefront in its corporate history published by the company in 2004. And indeed, it did. Maya quickly became the 3D modelling and animation software of choice for the animation and gaming industries. Since 1999, it has been used for the creation of special effects in numerous popular movies including Matrix (1999, Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category), Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999, Oscar nomination in the Best Visual Effects category), Stuart Little (1999, Oscar nomination in the Best Visual Effects category), Dinosaur (2000, the fifth highest-grossing film of that year), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001, Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category), Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001), Shrek (2001, Oscar in the Best Animated Feature category), The Birds (2001, Oscar in the Best Animated Short Film category), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002, Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category), Spider-Man (2002, Oscar nomination in the Best Visual Effects category), Ice Age (2002, Oscar in the Animated Feature Film category), The ChubbChubbs! (2002, Oscar in the Animated Short Film category), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002, Oscar nomination in the Best Visual Effects category), The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King (2003, Oscar in the Best Visual Effects category), and many others. In 2002, Alias|Wavefront, was awarded an Oscar in the Technical Achievement category for its development of Maya. While this was Alias|Wavefront's first time to receive an Oscar, several employees had been honoured by the Academy previously for their achievements in the Scientific and Technical Awards categories. These Academy recognitions would continue to be bestowed upon the company's employees in the following years. In July 2003, the company changed its name to Alias. In October 2005, it was acquired by Autodesk of San Rafael, California. Since then, Autodesk has continued to develop Maya and other Alias' popular software packages including StudioTools, ImageStudio, and PortfolioWall  — Alias' key solutions for design and visualization. Maya major releases: Maya version 1.0 (Alias|Wavefront, January 1998) Maya Complete (Alias|Wavefront, 1999) Maya Unlimited (Alias|Wavefront, 1999) Maya 3 (Alias|Wavefront, June 2000) Maya 4.5 (Alias|Wavefront, June 2002) Maya 5 (Alias|Wavefront, April 2003) Maya 6 (Alias, 2004) Maya 6.5 (Alias, January 2005) Maya 7 (Alias, August 2005) Maya 8 (Autodesk, 2006) Maya 8.5 (Autodesk, 2007) Autodesk Maya 2009 (Autodesk, 2008) Autodesk Maya 2010 (Autodesk, 2009) Autodesk Maya 2011 (Autodesk, 2010) ...... Autodesk Maya 2023 (Autodesk, 2022) The museum has: - Maya 1.0, (box set), Alias|Wavefront, January 1998; the box set     includes:    *  Learning Maya Version 1.0, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Using Maya Modelling, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Maya 1.0 Release Notes, Alias|Wavefront, February 1998    *  Maya 1.0 Developer's Kit Release Notes, Alias|Wavefront,        February 1998    *  Maya 1.0 Installing & Licensing, Alias|Wavefront, 1998    *  Maya 1.0 F/X, Artisan, and Developer's Kit (DVD-ROM),       Alias|Wavefront, 1998    *  Using Maya Version 1.0, Basics, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Using Maya Version 1.0, Animation, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Using Maya Version 1.0, Dynamics, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Using Maya Version 1.0, HyperGraph, Sets & Expressions,       Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Using Maya Version 1.0, Rendering, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  VIZPAINT 2D User's Guide 3.3, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Using MEL, ver. 1.0, Alias|Wavefront, January 1998    *  Discover Maya (DVD-ROM), Alias|Wavefront, 1998    *  Composer 4.5M (DVD-ROM), Alias|Wavefront, 1998    *  several promotional and reference brochures, 1998 - Character Animation in Maya, Alias|Wavefront, January 1999;  the front   cover has a stamp "Property of Lucas Arts Entertainment Company Art   Department" - Learning Maya 5, Foundation, Alias|Wavefront, 2003; includes    DVD-ROM - Learning Autodesk Maya 8, Foundation (DVD-ROM), Autodesk, 2006 - G. Maestri and M. Larkins, Maya 8 at a Glance, Wiley Publishing   Inc., 2006; includes DVD-ROM - Autodesk Maya 8.5, (DVD-ROM), Autodesk, 2007 - Learning Autodesk Maya 2009, The Special Effects Handbook,   Autodesk, 2008 - Eric Keller, Mastering Maya 2009, Wiley Publishing Inc., 2009;   includes DVD-ROM - Silicon Graphics Indigo^2 workstation, model nr. CMNB007BF195, with   PowerAnimator installed. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Alias|Wavefront Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1998 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Artifacts donated by Robertson Holt Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant world, 1998-- https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/59c8bca8dca795e9e9c5fb2cc259ba45.jpg 12eb1d49013e65707386b627e1ebedaa Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Volker-Craig VC204 Video Display Terminal Subject The topic of the resource computer hardware: video display terminal Description An account of the resource Historical Context: In the 1950s, the operators of mainframe computers used dedicated consoles, hardcopy terminals (such as teletypes and modified electric typewriters), and a variety of cathode ray tube (CRT) displays to run and control data processing tasks. Computer consoles typically featured rows of switches and associated lights that allowed operators to run and control the execution of programs, analyze data stored in memory, and to control other hardware interfaced with computers. Hardcopy terminals were used to print on roles of paper information such as operator's commands, computer responses, and other console messages. Finally, CRTs were used to displaying information (e.g. memory contents) in a rudimentary graphical form. The "glass teletype" that appeared in the mid-1960s was the first attempt at providing a single device allowing computer operators to run their systems having all the essential control and data processing information displayed on a screen. However, it was not until the early 1970s, when the first "dumb" video display terminals, featuring limited editing capabilities, were introduced (one of the earliest such terminals was the 7700A Interactive Display Terminal introduced by Lear Siegler Inc. in 1973). All these terminals shared the same basic keyboard-display-interface design: each featured a keyboard, a CRT screen that could display full sets of alphanumeric characters, and each had the capability to send and receive data via communication lines to a remote host computer. By the mid-1970s, video terminals became the most effective human-computer interface devices and they remain so until the mid-1980s, when they were displaced by microcomputers that could be interfaced with mainframes and minicomputers to perform terminal jobs in addition to microcomputing tasks, when PC monitors had become a common occurrence worldwide. In Canada, the design and manufacturing of computer display terminals began in the early 1970s. Comterm Inc. (Montreal), Cybernex Ltd. (Ottawa), Electrohome (Kitchener), Lektromedia (Pointe Claire), NORPAK (Kanata), TIL Systems Ltd (Toronto), and Volker-Craig (Waterloo) were some of the pioneering companies. Volker-Craig Ltd. was a Canadian manufacturer of video terminals, founded in 1973 by Michael C. Volker and Ronald G. Craig, both graduates from University of Waterloo. The company's early objective was to manufacture inexpensive video terminals. In a 2020 interview by Steven Forth for Ibbaka market blog, Volker recollects that "In those days... video displays were very, very expensive and being a student, I thought, this [video terminal manufacturing] needs to be done in a way that is economical for students." Volker's fourth-year engineering project to design an electronic circuitry for a video terminal that would allow the presentation of characters on the screen of a rudimentary television set was an entrepreneurial trigger. By the end of the 1970s, Volker-Craig was selling its terminals around the world through its offices and distributors in, among other countries, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, and US. In January 1982, Volker-Craig merged with five other companies to form NABU Manufacturing Ltd. with headquarters in Ottawa, and continued to develop video terminals including the popular VC4404. In 1984, as a result of NABU's restructuring, Volker-Craig became once again a fully independent company renamed as Volker-Craig Technologies Ltd. The VC204 video display terminal was one of the earliest products offered by Volker-Craig. It was an alphanumeric terminal designed to operate with an external monitor. It was implemented using TTL technology and offered both ASCII and APL language character sets. Technical specifications: not available The museum has a VC204 video display terminal without documentation. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Volker-Craig Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource mid-1970s Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context VC204 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada, 1970s https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/8dacd22e5adf510b3b51fdc13fbda8a6.JPG 4901f74afb74300216691918a7e69f29 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Multiflex Video Display Terminal Kit Subject The topic of the resource computer hardware: video display terminal Description An account of the resource Historical Context: Multiflex Technology Inc. was one of the companies of the Exceltronix group controlled by Eugen Hutka. In 1979, Hutka founded Exceltronix with its retail office at 319 College Street in Toronto. In the early 1980s, Multiflex was developing complete computer systems based on the Zilog Z80, Motorola 68000, and Intel 8086 processors together with a variety of peripheral and expansion cards. The company also manufactured stand-alone intelligent terminals, video display kits, as well as a range of other electronic products including peripheral and expansion cards for the Apple ][ computer. In 1984, Multiflex designed its first in the line of BEST computers compatible with the IBM PC and AT desktops, making Exceltronix one of the largest Canadian manufacturers of microcomputers of the 1980s. Multiflex Video Display Terminal Kit -- technical description (from the Exceltronix Catalogue Supplement, Spring 1983): The video display terminal is "originally designed as a low cost access unit for our [Exceltronix] soon to be operational computerized mail-ordering and bulletin board system." The terminal "is controlled by a Z80A microprocessor and a 6845 CRT controller chip. The keyboard is fully ASCII encoded and the character generator contains the full 128-character set as well as a 128-character alternate set both of which are in 5x7 dot matrix format. The screen display is 80 characters by 24 lines if the unit is hooked to an external monitor or 64 by 24 if run through an RF modulator to a TV. There are 3 software selectable attributes (dim, reverse video, and alternate character set) which can be chosen one at a time for the whole screen... Also included are 2 RS232 ports: one for a modem and one so that a printer can be attached to the terminal... The MULTIFLEX Video Display Terminal has provisions for an on board modem freeing a serial port." The Multiflex Video Display Terminal Kit was offered in 1982 and sold by Exceltronix. The museum has a complete Multiflex Video Display Terminal Kit as well a Multiflex Video Display board (without a built-in keyboard) and a keyboard in a separate enclosure. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Multiflex Technology Inc. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1982-- Type The nature or genre of the resource computer hardware Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MULTIFLEX03 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada, 1980s https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/e9fcd54c0f77182261c06360d32b4915.jpg 2bfe9b7e8cb2ec81b915f360efb9d2f8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ryerson 6800 Microcomputer Subject The topic of the resource computer hardware: educational computer Description An account of the resource Historical context: Microprocessor-based computers (microcomputers) were built at educational institutions as soon as the first 8-bit microprocessors became commercially available. They were initially constructed  as educational aids, as microprocessor trainers, and even as digital laboratory workstations set up at some universities to expose students to the principles of the emerging discipline of microprocessor systems design. These early educational microcomputers  were built around microprocessor demonstration boards offered by semiconductor companies as a low cost hardware aid to assist systems engineers in programming microprocessor-based devices. In 1973, Intel offered its SIM-8 demonstration board. Soon after other semiconductor companies offered their demonstration boards to support their microprocessors: Microsystems International Ltd. introduced its MOD-8 demonstrator in 1974, Motorola released its MEK 6800 in 1976 and so did MOS Technology and NEC which offered their demonstrators (the KIM-1 and the TK-80, respectively)  in the same year. In the 1970s, these demonstrators were popular with computer hobbyists. The Ryerson 6800 microcomputer was designed and constructed in the late 1970s at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University) to support its digital electronics course. According to a former Ryerson professor Peter Hiscocks. "The unit was put together to support the teaching of microprocessors when that was brand new in the EE curriculum  at Ryerson. The person that put the unit together was Augustine [Lee], I believe." The course was coordinated by Jack Miller and taught by, among other instructors, Augustine Lee and Doug Hawkes. The Ryerson 6800  was built around the Motorola MEK 6800D2 demonstration board. It was one of several single-board microcomputers used by students of Ryerson's Electrical Technology Department. Technical Specifications (for the MEK 6800D2): <ul> <li>CPU - Motorola 6800, 8-bit</li> <li>RAM - 1KB (4 x MCM 6810AP)</li> <li>ROM - SCM44520L with JBUG Monitor</li> <li>PORTS - asynchronous serial RS232, parallel I/O, audio cassette tape interface</li> <li>keypad -  hexadecimal: 16 keys for data entry section and 8 function keys</li> <li>display - 6 hex digit LED display.</li> </ul> Software: Motorola 6800 JBUG Monitor Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Motorola and Ryerson Polytechnical Institute Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1970s Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context R6800 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Toronto, Canada Ryerson https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/64f7a130ab28c0b92c9e207e416deef4.jpg c73b90d716eb6383fd2f664470ac2d08 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Nelma Persona Subject The topic of the resource hardware: desktop computer Description An account of the resource 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: <ul> <li>CPU: Zilog Z80A</li> <li>RAM: 64Kb</li> <li>external storage: two  180Kb floppy drives</li> <li>ports: serial and parallel</li> <li>keyboard: QWERTY-style, detachable, with keypad and 11 program function keys</li> <li>display: a stand alone 12 inch CRT, monochrome (green)</li> </ul> Nelma offered a range of optional hardware for Persona including: <ul> <li>Intel 8086 processor kit</li> <li>360Kb floppy diskette drives</li> <li>10Mb Winchester hard drive</li> <li>additional 64Kb or 128Kb RAM</li> <li>high resolution color graphics</li> </ul> Software: <ul> <li>CP/M operating system version 2.2, Digital Research</li> <li>WordStar word processor, MicroPro</li> <li>MailMerge mailing list handler, MicroPro</li> <li>CalcStar spreadsheet, MicroPro</li> <li>InfoStar database, MicroPro</li> <li>SpellStar spelling checker, MicroPro</li> <li>MBasic, Microsoft</li> <li>Persona communications package, Nelma</li> <li>Persona Professional Accounting, Nelma</li> </ul> The museum has a NDC 100 Persona (serial number 8300321) with a keyboard and monitor. It was manufactured in March 1983. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nelma Data Corporation Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1982 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant North America https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/b40c4cdb35070285640f1a1b4f6474cc.jpg 3cac084f16b42ca424f52b52d09b1bd8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource D.G.A. Electronics D156-SS Single Board Computer Subject The topic of the resource hardware: single board computer Description An account of the resource Historical context: D.G.A. ELECTRONICS LTD. was founded by Doug Atkinson in 1977 in Toronto, Ontario, as an electronics design firm. It specialized in the development of custom computer hardware and software including single board computers. The D.G.A. ELECTRONICS  D156-SS specifications: <ul> <li>CPU - Motorola 6802, 8-bit</li> <li>RAM - eight 14-pin sockets; two populated with HM472114 1024 x 4-bit memory chips</li> <li>ROM - two 24-pin EPROM sockets</li> <li>buss architecture: STD</li> <li>ports/connectors: serial and parallel, expansion buss connectors</li> <li>manufacturing data: 1980</li> </ul> <h2></h2> <h2>      MICROPROCESSOR BASED EMBEDDED CONTROL SYSTEMS      AUDIO/VIDEO SWITCHING      RADIO FREQUENCY COMMUNICATIONS      SOFTWARE AND FIRMWARE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT      MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS      INFRARED DEVICE CONTROL</h2> Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived D.G.A. ELECTRONICS LTD Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1980 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant North America https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/729accd4102fc86eff421c987dde8070.png 6fe6af6af8db4cd3569a313dfa2d290b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource NABU 1100 Computer System Subject The topic of the resource hardware: computer system Description An account of the resource Historical context The NABU 1100 system was manufactured by NABU Manufacturing Corp. in the early 1980s. The system consisted of the the NABU 1100 computer (designed by Toronto-based Andicom -- one of the companies amalgamated into NABU) and the NABU 4404 display terminal (designed and manufctured by Volcer-Craig Ltd. -- another Canadian company merged into NABU). Apart from being sold to Canadian customers through the Ottawa-based Computer Innovations retail stores (which become part of NABU as well), the system was internally used as software development platform for the NABU Network -- a novel cable TV-based delivery method for software and information using world's first cable-ready computers. The NABU 1100 computer hardwer was hosted in a large cabinet with casters on it for manoeuverability. A drawer at the bottom of the cabinet was provided to store software and manuals. The NABU 4404 display terminal was a stand-alone, ASCII, serial asynchronous computer peripheral that could be connected to any computer equipped with an RSC232C interface. NABU recommended other display terminals to be used with the NABU 1100 computer as well, such as the NABU 404, 3100, and 4416 terminals. NABU 1100 technical specifications <ul> <li>Bus: S-100</li> <li>CPU: Zilog Z80A CPU at 4 MHz</li> <li>RAM: 62 Kbytes</li> <li>ROM: 2 Knytes</li> <li>card slots for: CPU board (ACP-1101) floppy disk controller board (AFC-1100), I/O board (AIO-1100), and memory board (ADM-1000), and additional 4 user supplied boards</li> <li>external storage: two buil-in 8" Shugart diskette drives (SA850), double sided, capacity = 1600 Kbytes (unformated)</li> <li>ports: two RS-232C serial I/O, and parallel I/O</li> </ul> NABU 4404 Terminal specifications <ul> <li>CPU: Zilog Z80A</li> <li>display: 12" anti-glare, 24 lines, 80 characters per line, normal or revers video</li> <li>keyboard: detachable, QWERTY, upper/lower case characters</li> <li>8 switches to control the screen display</li> <li>ports: EIA RS232C communications interface</li> <li>data rates: from 110 up to 19200 baud</li> <li>options: serial and parallel interfaces, numeric key-pad and function keys, APL character set, ccoloured anti-glare display screen (amber or green)</li> </ul> NABU 1100 software and documentation <ul> <li>CP/M operating system,</li> <li>NABU 1100 User's Manual, Manufacturing Corp., 1981December 1981,</li> <li>The NABU 1100 System: A Technical Guide, Nabu Manufacturing Corp., 1981,</li> <li>VOLKER-CRAIG User's Manual, VC4404 The CHAT Video Display Terminal, Volker-Craig/NABU, Rev. 3, March 1982,</li> <li>VC4404 Video Display Terminal, Service Manual, Volker-Craig, 198?</li> <li>SA850/851 Bi-Compliant Double Sided Diskette Storage Drive Service Manual, Shugart,</li> <li>NABU 3100 Users Manual, NABU Commercial Terminals Ltd., 198?</li> <li>NABU 3100 Service Manual (preliminary), NABU Commercial Terminals Ltd. August 3, 1983.</li> </ul> The museum has a NABU 1100  computer with the above mentioned software and documentation as well as NABU 4404 and 404 terminals. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource NABU Manufacturing Corp. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context H.16 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available donated by D.J. Knigh Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Canada, 1980-1986 https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/9649e212fff9002eabe38e6025458b91.jpg 4478fcf69522100cc466d60d4c08be34 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gravis PC GamePad Subject The topic of the resource hardware: computer peripheral, game controller Description An account of the resource Historical context (by Z. Stachniak) In the final two decades of the twentieth century, the personal computer industry experienced rapid technological advances that included, among other innovations, the development of high-performance input devices (such as game controllers) as well as sound and video cards. Array Technology Inc. (ATI, founded in 1985), Creative Technology (1981), Logitech International (1981), Matrox Graphics (1976), and NVIDIA (1993) are examples of leading manufacturers of such products. In Canada, several companies—besides ATI and Matrox—successfully designed and manufactured input devices and add-on cards for personal computers. One such company was Gravis Computer Peripherals Inc. (Gravis), founded in 1982 in Burnaby, British Columbia. In 1985, the company was renamed International Gravis Computer Technology Inc., and following its amalgamation with Abaton Resources Ltd. in 1987, it adopted the name Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd. In 1997, Gravis was acquired by Kensington Computer Products Group, which incorporated the Gravis brand of entertainment gamepads and joysticks into its product line. The "Company Background" published on Gravis' ftp site in 1997, described the company's origins this way Gravis originated in 1979 from the passion for computer games shared by two childhood friends, Grant Russell and Dennis Scott-Jackson. They soon found that joysticks and paddles on the market did not provide a real arcade feel or precision, and they typically broke down within weeks of intensive game use. This started them on the quest to build a better joystick. Between 1985 and 1997, Gravis designed and manufactured several award-winning joysticks and gamepads for desktop computers produced by companies such as Amiga, Apple, Atari, Commodore, IBM, and Tandy. Its first product, the Gravis Analog Joystick, introduced in 1985, quickly became a popular choice among computer gamers. The Gravis PC GamePad, released in 1991, was equally successful and was adopted by numerous electronic entertainment companies, including Nintendo and Sega. Similar success followed with the Firebird programmable game controller, introduced in 1996. By 1996, the number of retail outlets carrying Gravis products exceeded 11,000 worldwide, making the company one of the world’s largest suppliers of computer joysticks and gamepads, according to reports such as those published by PC Data. Gravis PC GamePad  The Gravis PC GamePad was introduced in November 1991. It was the first gamepad for the IBM and IBM compatible computers and one of the most popular gamepads for these platforms. The device offered a fast digital direction pad, 4 quick response digital buttons, left- or right-hand play switch, and a switch selectining a single or two pleyer use. A variant of the PC GamePad for Macintosh personal computers was introduced by Gravis under the name Mac GamePad. Museum holdings <ul> <li>Gravis PC GamePad manufactured in 1991, its user's manual and Gravis Utilities floppy diskette,</li> <li>Gravis PC GamePad manufactured in 1998 and its Quick Install manual</li> </ul> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived donated by Zbigniew Stachniak Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant world, 1991-- https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/files/original/10f80d7ef859d1ec11992d6746e4c6c8.jpg 7542e18188d1b2795c94eca65e2c28c8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gravis Firebird 2 joystick Subject The topic of the resource hardware: computer peripheral, game controller Description An account of the resource Historical context (by Z. Stachniak) In the final two decades of the twentieth century, the personal computer industry experienced rapid technological advances that included, among other innovations, the development of high-performance input devices (such as game controllers) as well as sound and video cards. Array Technology Inc. (ATI, founded in 1985), Creative Technology (1981), Logitech International (1981), Matrox Graphics (1976), and NVIDIA (1993) are examples of leading manufacturers of such products. In Canada, several companies—besides ATI and Matrox—successfully designed and manufactured input devices and add-on cards for personal computers. One such company was Gravis Computer Peripherals Inc. (Gravis), founded in 1982 in Burnaby, British Columbia. In 1985, the company was renamed International Gravis Computer Technology Inc., and following its amalgamation with Abaton Resources Ltd. in 1987, it adopted the name Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd. In 1997, Gravis was acquired by Kensington Computer Products Group, which incorporated the Gravis brand of entertainment gamepads and joysticks into its product line. The "Company Background" published on Gravis' ftp site in 1997, described the company's origins this way Gravis originated in 1979 from the passion for computer games shared by two childhood friends, Grant Russell and Dennis Scott-Jackson. They soon found that joysticks and paddles on the market did not provide a real arcade feel or precision, and they typically broke down within weeks of intensive game use. This started them on the quest to build a better joystick. Between 1985 and 1997, Gravis designed and manufactured several award-winning joysticks and gamepads for desktop computers produced by companies such as Amiga, Apple, Atari, Commodore, IBM, and Tandy. Its first product, the Gravis Analog Joystick, introduced in 1985, quickly became a popular choice among computer gamers. The Gravis PC GamePad, released in 1991, was equally successful and was adopted by numerous electronic entertainment companies, including Nintendo and Sega. Similar success followed with the Firebird programmable game controller, introduced in 1996. By 1996, the number of retail outlets carrying Gravis products exceeded 11,000 worldwide, making the company one of the world’s largest suppliers of computer joysticks and gamepads, according to reports such as those published by PC Data. Gravis Firebird 2 The Gravis Firebird programmable game controller was introducewd in 1995. The Firebird 2 followed in 1997. It offered 13 programmable buttons and 8-way hat switch giving a player direct access to the majority of functions required by games of the late 1990s. The Firebird 2 software allowed an assignment of a single or a series of commands to a single button bypassing keyboard commands. Museum holdings <ul> <li>Firebird 2 programmable joystick, rev. 2, 0398,</li> <li>Firebird 2 Quick Install manual, Gravis, 1997,</li> <li>The Gravis Game CD , Gravis, 1997 (includes a full manual).</li> </ul> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived donated by Szabolcs Albertini Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant world, 1996--