In 1976, toy company Mattel launched 'Auto Race', a portable electronic game with a 21 LED display, a reprogrammed calculator chip as its central processor and a program that fitted into half a kilobyte of memory. Despite its simplicity, it was a great success. Mattel followed it with many others including such classics as‘Football’ and‘Sub-Chase’. Fast forward to the present day and the latest console from Nintendo the 3DS, has two high resolution colour screens, one touch sensitive the other 3D, stereo sound, motion sensors and augmented reality software.
"It’s not often you get to see such an amazing collection all in one place" commented museum curator Simon Webb, "this is a fascinating look at the machines, the games and the technology, it's certainly come a long way"
Gaming on the Go has over 50 exhibits with many available for visitors to play. The exhibition is open until late summer 2011, standard museum admission charges apply.
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The Museum of Computing was the first dedicated computer museum in the UK, opening in 2003. It is a non-for-profit Company limited by guarantee and is run entirely by volunteers. The museum has a collection of over 3000 objects related to the history of computing and holds regular exhibitions and events.
- <*> The museum is in Swindon town centre at 6-7 Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN, at the top of Regent Street close to the new Central Library. <*> Opening times are: Fridays from 10am to 4pm and Saturdays from 9.30am to 5 pm. There is a classroom for talks, childrens computer club, adult computer classes, gaming events and school visits. <*> Admission fees are:£5.00 for a family ticket,£2 for adults,£1.50 for Students and Concessions, children age 6-15 yrs cost£1, under 5's go free. All children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. We welcome school parties and private groups by appointment.
- <*> Clark Holt Commercial Solicitors ( www.clarkholt.com) <*> Intel UK ( www.intel.com) <*> Silent-G Design ( www.silent-g.co.uk) <*> Alpha Galileo ( www.alphagalileo.org) <*> Dennis's Removals and Storage ( www.dennissremovals.co.uk) <*> Shepherd Consulting ( www.shepherdconsulting.co.uk)
The museum is supported by the following organisations:
- <*> Wiltshire Branch of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT ( www.@wiltshirebcs.org)
Magdalena Szalachowska
Press Officer
Mobile: +44 (0) 7894 450514
press@museumofcomputing.org.uk
For details on the exhibition and museum contact:
Simon Webb
Curator, Museum of Computing
Mobile +44 (0)7834 375628
