| American_Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Cruelty_toward_Robots A site devoted to ensuring the rights of any sentient robots that may someday be developed. |
| Android_World Lots of information on androids and specific android projects. |
| Australia\'s_Telerobot_on_the_Web An ABB industrial robot operated via the Internet. Online since 1994 and originally controlled with a web browser applet, this was one of the first web-controlled robots. Registration is required to u |
| BBC_Robot_World Offers news, reviews and history of robots, as well as robot building guides and a discussion forum. |
| Electronics_Forum Online discussion forum for subject related to electronics including robotics, analog design, analog filters, and tubes. |
| GoRobotics_net An amateur robotics site, including links, books, and resources. |
| How_Stuff_Works_-_The_Singing_Fish Photographed autopsy of the popular singing fish novelty fad reveals its robotic-like subsystems with complete informative descriptions. |
| Humanoid_Robotics Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab page that provides an overview of Humanoid Robotics, addressing their history, current research, and ethical issues. |
| Learn_about_Robots Includes commentary on robot related terminology and many applications of robotics including entertainment, military, space, industrial, and others. |
| Machine_Grid Portal site featuring tutorials, news, links, and other resources for robot builders. |
| Machine_Intelligence_Group Robotics/AI portal with news and discussion forum. Based in India. |
| Orion_Robots A weblog with tips and help on building robots, robot links and robot designs. |
| Plausible_Futures_Newsletter News weblog on topics that include robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and sciences that could dramatically affect the future of society. |
| Popular_Mechanics_Robotics Articles discussing the latest news on robotics technology and artificial intelligence research. |
| Retrofire_-_Rockets_&_Robots Portal for robots and rocket hobbyists. Site includes news, forums, plans, resources, and online store. |
| RoboFesta-UK News and information site with a focus on educational robotics in the UK. Event announcements for UK robotics related events, as well as FAQs, educational resources download area, comprehensive links |
| Robonyp\'s_Website News, links, and several tutorials, on electronics and robotics. |
| Robot_Haven News, information and discussion about robots and robotics. |
| RobotCafe_com RobotCafe.com is a unique portal that offers search results based on quality and popularity. Find free tutorials, news, discussion forums, and an extensive directory of links to robotics websites. |
| Robotic_Spot Robotics portal site devoted to robotic locomotion and home automation. Based in Madrid, Spain. Site in English and Spanish. |
| Robotics_Daily Offers an aggregate RSS newsfeed from a variety of robot news sites. |
| Robotics_FAQ For the newsgroups comp.robotics.misc and comp.robotics.research. |
| Robotics_India Robotics community site for India. Site include discussion forums, news, and links. |
| Robotics_Trends News, information, opinion and analysis portal covering the personal, service, mobile and military robotics markets. |
| RobotsLife_com News and interviews, and information on research and events. |
| Robots_net A news and discussion site for those interested in robots and robotics. Home of the Robot Competition FAQ and a variety of resource pages. |
| RobotsRule_com_Forum Discussion forum for fans of the Robots.net web site. |
| Tech_Geek News and reviews on the latest robotics innovation, and projects to try. |
| The_Telegarden A tele-robotic installation allows users to view and interact with a remote garden filled with living plants. |
| Walking_and_Exotic_Robots_Forum Online discussion forum for people interested in developing legged robots. Requires free registration. |
| GoRobotics_net Robotics news [RSS] |
| Robots_net Robotics and AI news [RSS] |
| Association_for_Computing_Machinery_(ACM) Special Interest Group on Computers and Society (ACM SIGCAS), addresses concerns about the ethical and societal impact of computers. Conferences. Events. Awards to individuals for making a difference |
| Cases_about_Computers_and_Software Real and hypothetical case studies, resources, discussions, guidelines and directories for software and computing ethics. |
| Centre_for_Computing_and_Social_Responsibility Co-organizers of computer ethics conferences (EthiComp) and providers of social-impact advising to government and other groups. News. Resources. Discussions. Conferences listings. |
| Computer_Learning_Foundation__Use_Technology_Responsibly Resources and guidelines for children's use of computers. |
| Computer_Professionals_for_Social_Responsibility_(CPSR) Activism for civil liberties in issues such as internet censorship, internet governance, malicious interference. |
| Computing_Cases Teaching tools and case studies pertaining to the ethics inherent in the computing industry. Catalogues of background reading, case studies, and teaching material. |
| The_Cybercitizen_Awareness_Program Educates children and young s on the danger and consequences of cyber crime. |
| Ethics_in_Computing Directory of links concerning many issues and topics related to computers and their use. |
Timeline Pages
PC-History.Org is the centerpiece of a growing hub of historical information on computing related topics. These gradually will be added to over time. For your enjoyment, we are pleased to bring you the history of....
The PC Virus
Computer Forensics
ISO 17799
ITIL
Cobit
Pre-IBM
PC Computers.
MITS ALTAIR 8800-The
start of it all
The MITS Altair was the first
8080 based kit microcomputer. It was first introduced in the January, 1975 issue of
Popular Electronics magazine as a construction project. The reaction to the Altair
was un-expected by either the magazine or by MITS who designed it. Although not the
first available microcomputer , it was the start of the industry.
IMSAI -8080 The micro-computer that was
more than a toy
The Imsai 8080 developed by IMS Associates, was designed to use the
same bus structure as the Altair 8800 with interchangeable circuit boards. The Imsai 8080
however was much better built, had a more powerful power supply, and front panel. It
supplanted the Altair A model as the standard S-100 Bus computer. The Imsai was the
first for a complete line of micros built by this company.
Southwest Tech 6800- The kit builders favorite
The M6800 Computer kit from South West Technical Products Company
used the Motorola 6800 processor and the SS-50 bus structure. Much less expensive
than the S-100 bus computers and much simpler to build, the M6800 became very popular. In
addition SWTPC provided a complete family of peripherals kits at very low cost. The
software for the M6800 was excellent and very inexpensive.
The SOL-First 8080 Desktop microcomputer
Processor Technology company designed and sold a full line of boards
for the S-100 computers. In 1977 they designed the SOL Computer which used most of
their circuit boards. The SOL had a video terminal built-in, only requiring a video
monitor. In a very attractive case with walnut wood sides, the SOL became a very popular
computer that influenced the design of future computers. Pro. Tech did not provide a
low cost floppy disk system so users turned to North Star for their disk storage.
Apple II The micro that
made it into business and homes .
The Apple II was the first true"personal computer"
it was factory built, in-expensive and easy to learn and use. Provided with the most
extensive set of software and low cost floppy disks, the Apple II was also the first
personal computer capable of color graphics and easy modem operation.. Development
of the Visicalc spreadsheet program created a business tool that made adoption of
Apple II a regular part of business.
TRS-80 (Trash 80), The most popular home
computer
Radio
Shack's TRS-80 selling for about $500 complete with video monitor and BASIC took the
personal computer market by storm. Using a fast Z-80 processor it use a cassette
recorder for program and data storage. Later models incorporated disk drives and more
memory. the Model III, housed in one case became the most popular personal computer in
schools and homes rivaling the Apple II. Radio Shack also built other types of
personal computers including the first practical laptop, the Model 100.
Atari 800- The machine that won the color graphics race
The Atari Models 400 and 800 were considered the best personal
computers for games and color graphics. They had a very large family of game software, but
not much business software. Lack of good disk and peripheral support cased these
machines to have a short life.
Commodore 64- Breaking the price barrier
The Commodore 64 was the best-selling personal computer of all
time. It had a large memory capacity, low cost floppy disks and peripherals and color
graphics. It could use a TV for a monitor and there was all the software anyone could
want. Commodore in a price war with Texas Instruments, reduced the prices of
the C-64 as low as $260 and more of them were sold than any computer in history.
Texas Instruments TI 99-4
The Texas Instruments 99-4A used a TI 16-bit processor and was an
excellent graphics computer. It lacked easy expansion capabilities and required
proprietary software.After
engaging in a price war with Commodore, TI stopped production and sold out below $100 per
computer
Heath- Desktop with built-in floppy and monitor
The Heath Desktop was one of the first computers designed as
complete desktop machines including monitor, floppy disks and keyboard. Heath made a full
line of computers and was later bought by Zenith.
Morrow- Powerful S-100 Z80 Computer using CP/M
The Morrow computer was one of last powerful Z-80 powered
S-100 computers. Representative of the designs supplanted by the IBM PC, this machine was
sold as a complete system including a video terminal and printer.It ran the CP/M operating system and the MP/M multi-user operating
system.
The Morrow Company was a leading supplier of disk systems
for CP/M computers.
LATEST
INFORMATION & LINKS
Photographs:
See our growing collection of other interesting photographs: here More
Pre-IBM PCs: Including Ohio Scientific and The
Digital Group
Software: The Birth of PC Software
(including 'The Rise of "Killer" Apps)
Other PC History & Museum Sites Links: We have recently added an external Links
Section
This site is under construction by Stan Veit and the PC
History Association. Stan Veit will make his vast collection available on the net and
provide a site for learning about antique computers. Your comments and
contributions are most welcome. The site will grow into a resource for all interested in
computer history. Note: we will not publish arguments about which computer was the
best.
To contact site administration: pchistory [at] pc-history . org
To contact Stan Veit: stv
[at] pc-history . org
Browse the Keyword Map of Pc-History.Org
Sp2
PC-History.Org. Preserved by Sara's Web Preservation Group
