Microcomputer History and Prehistory - An Archaeological Beginning

Abstract

Calculators, computers, and video games are all high-tech tools of the mind. Teachers find students fascinated by early examples and willing to engage in high-tech archaeological searches in their local community. The cost is usually low - sometimes nothing - since companies are willing often to give away or donate surplus equipment, and old video games are common garage sale items. These artifacts, combined with their disks and cartridges, may be disassembled and analyzed, restored and displayed or operated as functioning units-an archaeological challenge that motivates students and gives them a historical perspective about the computer revolution, both its software and hardware.