{"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":"2026-06-11T08:45:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T12:45:56","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":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Carleton Vintage Computing for Educators\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>The Carleton University Vintage Computing collection has several educational elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Vintage Computing Display\" class=\"wp-image-24075\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260414_120948336-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    \n    <dl class=\"cu-description cu-component-updated\">\n        \n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-computing-eras\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Computing Era&#8217;s\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-computing-eras\">\n            \n\n<p>We can classify the Evolution of computers through these 3 main computing era&#8217;s:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Era<\/th><th>Timeframe<\/th><th>Tech used<\/th><th>What it meant<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Mainframes<\/strong><\/td><td>1950&#8217;s to early 1970&#8217;s, with mainframes continuing in enterprise use afterward<\/td><td>Vacuum tubes in the earliest systems, then transistors, then integrated circuits<\/td><td>Large centralized machines for governments, banks, airlines, and big business. IBM<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Minicomputers<\/strong><\/td><td>Mid-1960&#8217;s through the 1980&#8217;s<\/td><td>Mostly transistorized systems at first, then integrated circuits and improved memory<\/td><td>Smaller, cheaper multi-user computers for labs, departments, and smaller organizations. DEC<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Microcomputers<\/strong><\/td><td>Early 1970&#8217;s &#8211; present day<\/td><td>Microprocessors\/CPUs on a single chip, plus RAM, disk storage, and later PC&#8217;s<\/td><td>Personal computers for individuals and small offices.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Carleton collection spans the microcomputing era &#8211; that is computers that have a CPU on a single chip.<\/p>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-arlens-evolution-of-microcomputing-display\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Arlen&#8217;s Evolution of Microcomputing Display\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-arlens-evolution-of-microcomputing-display\">\n            \n\n<p>Arlen\u2019s Evolution of Microcomputing Display showcases many notable computers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>10 most important innovations in the Evolution of Microcomputing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Transistor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Central Processing Unit (CPU)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Operating Systems (O\/S) &amp; the GUI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hardware development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Software Development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Networking and the Internet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Computer Graphics &amp; Sound<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cybersecurity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smartphone<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>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\n\n\n<p><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Who is Arlen?<br><\/strong>Dr. Arlen Michaels donated his lifelong vintage computer collection to Carleton University. Many of the computers on display are from Arlen&#8217;s collection. To recognize his generoius contribution to the school we named the display in his honour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Notable Computers<br><\/strong>All the computers in the display are notable in some way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An Analog Computer: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin99\/\">Comdyna GP-6<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First Desktop Computer: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin1\/\">Hewlett-Packard HP9830A<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First Personal Computer:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin199\/\">MITS Altair 8800<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First luggable computer: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin18\/\">Osborne 1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First Laptop: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin80\/\">Epson HX-20<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First PC: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin29\/\">IBM 5150 (Original PC)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First Mac: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin127\/\">Apple Macintosh (Original)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First iPhone: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin168\/\">Apple iPhone (Original)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First solid state handheld game: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin161\/\">Mattel Electronics Auto Race<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Canadian Computers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Canada has a vinatge computing history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Volker-Craig: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin2\/\">Volker Craig VC404<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commodore: SuperPET SP9000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Ottawa Computers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, there were notable companies that made computers in Ottawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bytec: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin26\/\">Bytec Hyperion<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nabu <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin197\/\">Nabu 1100<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin136\/\">Personal Computer NPC-2<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DY4: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin5\/\">DY4 Orion V<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>QT Computer: <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin6\/\">QT Computer Systems SYS-I6<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-live-demos\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Live Demos\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-live-demos\">\n            \n\n<p>Some of the equipment is in working order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vintage gaming computers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Luggables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HP 9830A<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We have some luggables that are interesting to unbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-flyer\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Flyer\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-flyer\">\n            \n\n<p>The vintage computing flyer references all the computers and has mystery computing items scavenger hunt to complete.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/HP4155-Handout-2026-04-09.pdf\">Arlen\u2019s Evolution of Microcomputing Flyer<\/a>&nbsp;(pdf)<br>Each computer has a fascinating and educational story to tell.<\/p>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-videos\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    Videos\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-videos\">\n            \n\n<p>Interesting and educational microcomputing videos<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Computer\/ Tech<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Youtube<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MITS Altair 8800<\/td><td>First personal computer<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/uDc31O9GnFo?si=WHKTEME5L6DJjazT\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/uDc31O9GnFo?si=WHKTEME5L6DJjazT<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SUN Microsystems<\/td><td>Sun Microsystems mattered because it shaped modern networked computing through workstations, Unix, SPARC, NFS, and Java.<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/P1TsVW4P5DI?si=CsW_rEBqclRaHI31\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/P1TsVW4P5DI?si=CsW_rEBqclRaHI31<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>How are Microchips made<\/td><td>CPU&#8217;s run every computer on earth<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/dX9CGRZwD-w?si=L5j3qowFIhaKmipU\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/dX9CGRZwD-w?si=L5j3qowFIhaKmipU<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>How are GPU&#8217;s made<\/td><td>GPU&#8217;s enable computer gaming<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/h9Z4oGN89MU?si=m9qQNEyQVqdkx4Nw\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/h9Z4oGN89MU?si=m9qQNEyQVqdkx4Nw<\/a> [28:29]<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/dl>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Carleton University Vintage Computing collection has several educational elements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2299,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[],"class_list":["post-24042","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24042"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24788,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24042\/revisions\/24788"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=24042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}