{"id":24042,"date":"2026-04-09T15:31:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T19:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=24042"},"modified":"2026-04-15T11:55:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:55:28","slug":"carleton-vintage-computing-for-educators","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/carleton-vintage-computing-for-educators\/","title":{"rendered":"Carleton Vintage Computing for Educators"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Carleton University Vintage Computing collection has several educational elements.<\/p>\n

\"Vintage<\/a><\/p>\n

Computing Era's<\/a><\/dt>

<\/p>\n

We can classify the Evolution of computers through these 3 main computing era’s:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Era<\/th>\nTimeframe<\/th>\nTech used<\/th>\nWhat it meant<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Mainframes<\/strong><\/td>\n1950’s to early 1970’s, with mainframes continuing in enterprise use afterward<\/td>\nVacuum tubes in the earliest systems, then transistors, then integrated circuits<\/td>\nLarge centralized machines for governments, banks, airlines, and big business. IBM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minicomputers<\/strong><\/td>\nMid-1960’s through the 1980’s<\/td>\nMostly transistorized systems at first, then integrated circuits and improved memory<\/td>\nSmaller, cheaper multi-user computers for labs, departments, and smaller organizations. DEC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Microcomputers<\/strong><\/td>\nEarly 1970’s – present day<\/td>\nMicroprocessors\/CPUs on a single chip, plus RAM, disk storage, and later PC’s<\/td>\nPersonal computers for individuals and small offices.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Carleton collection spans the microcomputing era – that is computers that have a CPU on a single chip.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/dd>

<\/div>\n
Arlen's Evolution of Microcomputing Display<\/a><\/dt>

<\/p>\n

Arlen’s Evolution of Microcomputing Display showcases many notable computers.<\/p>\n

10 most important innovations in the Evolution of Microcomputing<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Transistor\"Yellow<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Central Processing Unit (CPU)<\/li>\n
  3. The Computer<\/li>\n
  4. Operating Systems (O\/S) & the GUI<\/li>\n
  5. Hardware development<\/li>\n
  6. Software Development<\/li>\n
  7. Networking and the Internet<\/li>\n
  8. Computer Graphics & Sound<\/li>\n
  9. Cybersecurity<\/li>\n
  10. Smartphone<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These 10 Innovations are highlighted with a yellow circle and found throughout the display. All 10 innovations make up what a computer is and the most important features that evolved.<\/p>\n

    Who is Arlen?<\/h3>\n

    Dr. Arlen Michaels donated his lifelong vintage computer collection to Carleton University. Many of the computers on display are from Arlen’s collection. To recognize his generoius contribution to the school we named the display in his honour.<\/p>\n

    Notable Computers<\/h3>\n

    All the computers in the display are notable in some way:<\/p>\n