BBC Microcomputer System

Associated With

Acorn (designer and manufacturer); BBC (commissioner and specifier) - inventor, developer or manufacturer

Defining Feature

8-bit 6502-based microcomputer system

Status

Preserved - Canonical; preserved in institutional collections and specialist archives

Overview

Acorn designed and manufactured the BBC Microcomputer System (BBC Micro) for the BBC's Computer Literacy Project in 1981.

The original 8-bit system comprised Models A and B. It combined BBC BASIC, colour graphics, sound and cassette storage with several connectivity and expansion options.

The BBC issued its specification in January 1981, and Acorn won the contract that March. Supply delays affected the computer rollout before the wider project formally launched in January 1982 with broadcasts, books, software and local support.

Why It Mattered

The BBC Micro connected a computer platform with television programmes, printed material, software, courses and tutors. This coordinated approach supported programming and digital-literacy education, while documented school use made the machine strongly associated with British classroom computing.

Its built-in facilities and expansion interfaces made the machine useful for both introductory learning and further experimentation.

Models and Memory

• The system used the 6502 processor family.
• Model A had 16K RAM, while Model B had 32K RAM.
• The original BBC Microcomputer System comprised Model A and Model B variants.

Built-In Facilities

• Facilities included BBC BASIC, colour graphics modes, sound and cassette storage.
• Connectivity and expansion options included video, serial, analogue and Econet interfaces.

Computer Literacy Project Rollout

• The BBC issued the specification in January 1981, and Acorn won the contract in March 1981.
• Supply delays affected the computer rollout before the wider project formally launched in January 1982.
• The project combined broadcasts with books, software, helplines, local courses and tutors.

Gallery