On This Day - 22nd June

1910

Konrad Zuse is born

Zuse would go on to design and build a series of pioneering calculating machines, including the Z1, Z2 and Z3. His Z3, completed in 1941, was a fully functional, program-controlled electromechanical computer using binary arithmetic and punched-paper tape for its program. It is widely regarded as the world's first functional programmable computer.

Zuse also developed Plankalkül, an early high-level programming language, during the 1940s.

His work was largely carried out independently in Germany and was not widely known internationally during the Second World War, but his machines and ideas later became recognised as important milestones in the history of computing.

Source: Computer History Museum; TU Berlin; MacTutor History of Mathematics.

Konrad Zuse was born on 22 June 1910 in Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany.

1977

Science of Cambridge incorporated

In June 1977, Science of Cambridge was incorporated by Clive Sinclair and Chris Curry. The company was established following the financial difficulties that had affected Sinclair Radionics and became the beginning of a new phase in Sinclair's electronics business. Despite its name, the company was not primarily a scientific research organisation; it developed and marketed innovative consumer electronics products.

Science of Cambridge is particularly important in the history of British home computing because it produced the MK14, a low-cost single-board computer based around the National Semiconductor SC/MP processor. Introduced in 1978, the MK14 was sold as a kit and helped demonstrate the growing demand for inexpensive personal computers. Chris Curry subsequently became increasingly involved in the computer side of the business, eventually leaving to establish Acorn Computers with Hermann Hauser.

Science of Cambridge later changed its name to Sinclair Computers and subsequently became Sinclair Research. The company's development therefore provides a direct link between Clive Sinclair's earlier electronics business and the computers that followed, including the ZX80, ZX81 and ultimately the ZX Spectrum.

Source: Companies House / Sinclair historical records

Science of Cambridge was incorporated in 1977 and became the company responsible for the MK14 before evolving into Sinclair Computers and later Sinclair Research.

1978

Science of Cambridge launches the MK14

**Science of Cambridge launches the MK14**

Science of Cambridge's MK14 was the company's first microcomputer and an important early step towards the Sinclair ZX80, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. The project originated with Ian Williamson, who had developed a small computer based around National Semiconductor's SC/MP microprocessor and components from a Sinclair calculator. Chris Curry recognised its potential and persuaded Science of Cambridge to develop it as a commercial kit. The resulting MK14, or Microcomputer Kit 14, was aimed primarily at electronics enthusiasts and computer hobbyists.

Launched in 1978 for around £40, the MK14 provided a surprisingly capable introduction to microcomputing at a very low price. The basic kit included a National Semiconductor SC/MP processor, 256 bytes of RAM, a 512-byte monitor program and an eight-digit, seven-segment LED display operated through a 20-key hexadecimal keyboard. Optional expansion boards provided additional RAM, I/O and interfaces, including the possibility of connecting the computer to a television display and cassette recorder. The MK14 went on to sell tens of thousands of units and helped establish the market that Science of Cambridge would soon exploit with the ZX80.

Source: Electronics Today International — 30 September 1978

Contemporary review states that the MK14 had been launched earlier in 1978. Exact launch day not established.

On This Day - 22nd June

Konrad Zuse is born

Also in this month

Science of Cambridge incorporated

Science of Cambridge launches the MK14

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