Micro-What? Microcomputing at the University of Waterloo, 1979--1982

Scott M. Campbell, "Micro-What? Microcomputing at the University of Waterloo, 1979--1982''

Canadian Science and Technology Historical Association XV Conference, Toronto, 12 October 2007

When computer science departments were first forming in the early 1960s they were linked pedagogically with large, centralized computers, and these expensive machines were shared among faculty and students. The invention of small and cheap microprocessors in the early 1970s soon led to inexpensive personal microcomputers suitable for individual use, a spectacular and widely recognized technological shift. In this talk I will explore how the University of Waterloo -- world famous for its commitment to student-oriented computing and a practical undergraduate education -- shaped microcomputing and was shaped by the new technology.

Slides (PDF)

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