Faded Screens: Early Computing
	Faded Screens studies the early computers which were accessed and used by schools and businesses before the advent of the Personal Computer. Generalisations and personal recollections are used in the text, pending more detailed research. Photo courtesy of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).
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Timeshare
This gave access to a mainframe or mini computer and was typically used by colleges via dial up lines using a teletype machine...

The Teletype Terminal

	This teletype was typically used to input and run BASIC commands on a remote mini computer. The programs could be stored on paper tape (see tape punch/reader on left). Photo courtesy of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL)

The Cossor VDU

Early computer applications in the Post Office Telecommunications used Cossor terminals to access remote mainframes.

	The Cossor VDTs (Video Display Terminals) were very bulky pieces of kit by today's standards. I think the Post Office examples were finished in matt black. Applications were interrogation of CRR (Customer Rental Records) via the TOLD (Telecommunications On Line Data) network. Photo courtesy of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).

The Ferranti PT7

In the Press...

These 1983 adverts portray the PT7 and Telex Manager as unobtrusive items of office furniture.

Learn more about the Ferranti PT7 (later)

Books
Accidental Empires by Robert X. Cringely

	Exploring the culture which begat the Personal Computer, Accidental Empires details the early histories of Apple, Intel, Microsoft and others.

Links

www.chilton-computing.org.uk hosted by Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).

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