Britons are all set for a new technology museum christened - ‘The National Museum of Computing.’ This informative museum will be built at the renowned Bletchley Park known for it’s code breakers’ invention - the modern day computing machines. The ground breaking ‘Colossus computer’ will adorn the centre stage of this prestigious museum. Colossus was considered to be a lethal computing machine of the World War 2 era as it broke into the high-level ‘German communication system’ with tremendous accuracy and precision.
This extraordinary museum would aim to portray every aspect of assorted computing techniques involved in the development of various computing machines. A joint venture with Bletchley Park Trust, the museum people seem to be all set for some surprises too for the visitors.
One of the founders of this Trust, Andy Clark, opined:
I cannot think of a better place than Bletchley to put the museum, it’s a key part of the modern history of the computer.
Already the trust has leased a number of buildings comprising of ‘Block H’ that once confined the Colossus No. 9 during the great World War 2. But the machines won’t be all archaic and outdated; they’ll be restored to their working condition.
Mr. Clark commented;
Where else would you be able to surf the net on a machine from 1976? This is not a museum of computers but of computing.
Tony Sale (another trust founder) added that-
This museum is definitely a class apart. It would unleash some ‘800 square meters’ of computing machines that may lift a visitor’s senses to a completely new level of excitement and knowledge.
According to the officials this museum would house - DEC PDP 8, an Elliott 803, numerous ICL mainframes, air traffic control terminals and a hell lot of desktops.
Engineers from around the country have bestowed the museum with their valuable information and knowledge so as to make this project an unforgettable success. Tony Sale has given his 14 years working out to rebuild ‘Colossus Mark 2′.
Approximately £250,000 would be spent on this project, which would definitely safe guard and insure the bright future for this national treasure. Britons may certainly succeed in flaunting their role in the modern computing world, and the world is watching!
British Computer Society’s conference on 12th July relating to ‘the history of early computers’ would see an unofficial opening debut for this museum.
Adios! I am off to Bletchley to catch an early glimpse of this phenomenon!
Via: BBCnews
