Industry | Computer hardware |
---|---|
Founded | 1965 |
Founders | Keith Trickett and Avo Hiiemae |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Eric Lubbock (chairman) |
Products | data loggers, minicomputers |
Digico was a British computer company founded in 1965 by Keith Trickett and Avo Hiiemae, two ex- ICL electronics engineers. Former MP Eric Lubbock became chairman in 1969. [1] The company was based in Letchworth initially, moving to a new factory in Stevenage in 1973 [2] and employing about 90 staff. [3]
Digico's first product was a laboratory data-logging and spectrum analyser hardware system named DIGIAC. This product had been developed before Digico was formed, so was an immediate source of income. [1] Digico soon developed a 16-bit minicomputer series, the Micro 16, for which it was best known for.
Digico quickly started developing a general purpose single accumulator 16-bit minicomputer, the Micro 16, which became available in 1966. Digico was assisted by the Ministry of Technology and the National Research Development Corporation in this development. [1] [2] [4] The first version produced was the Digico Micro 16S (1968), followed by the 16P (1970), then the 16V in 1972. [5] [6]
Example applications available for Micro 16V [7] |
---|
Animal feed mix control |
Car park control |
Census analysis |
Electroencephalography |
Gas chromatography |
ICL 1900 front ending |
Invoicing |
Machine tool control |
Mass spectrometry |
Stock control |
Typesetting |
The Digico Micro 16V had a standard memory of 4k words with 950 nano second cycle time, expandable to 64k words, and able to support up to 64 external interfaces. It had an optional microprogrammed floating-point unit. [7] The Micro 16V was supported by a simple and flexibly sized executive that could optionally support multiprogramming, disc files and teletypes. [8] The Micro 16V used semiconductor memory, rather than magnetic-core memory as in the previous models. [9]
Digico primarily sold into the data logging market until 1969, when it expanded into areas like process control, stock control and front-end processors for the ICL 1900 mainframe. [1] [10] In 1974 Digico had a turnover of over £1 million (equivalent to £13 million in 2023) and in 1977 well over £1 million. [11] [12]
In 1978 the Digico Micro 16E stackable minicomputer, which was well suited to an office environment, won a Design Council Award for Engineering Products. [13] [14]
Industry | Computer hardware |
---|---|
Founded | 1965 |
Founders | Keith Trickett and Avo Hiiemae |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Eric Lubbock (chairman) |
Products | data loggers, minicomputers |
Digico was a British computer company founded in 1965 by Keith Trickett and Avo Hiiemae, two ex- ICL electronics engineers. Former MP Eric Lubbock became chairman in 1969. [1] The company was based in Letchworth initially, moving to a new factory in Stevenage in 1973 [2] and employing about 90 staff. [3]
Digico's first product was a laboratory data-logging and spectrum analyser hardware system named DIGIAC. This product had been developed before Digico was formed, so was an immediate source of income. [1] Digico soon developed a 16-bit minicomputer series, the Micro 16, for which it was best known for.
Digico quickly started developing a general purpose single accumulator 16-bit minicomputer, the Micro 16, which became available in 1966. Digico was assisted by the Ministry of Technology and the National Research Development Corporation in this development. [1] [2] [4] The first version produced was the Digico Micro 16S (1968), followed by the 16P (1970), then the 16V in 1972. [5] [6]
Example applications available for Micro 16V [7] |
---|
Animal feed mix control |
Car park control |
Census analysis |
Electroencephalography |
Gas chromatography |
ICL 1900 front ending |
Invoicing |
Machine tool control |
Mass spectrometry |
Stock control |
Typesetting |
The Digico Micro 16V had a standard memory of 4k words with 950 nano second cycle time, expandable to 64k words, and able to support up to 64 external interfaces. It had an optional microprogrammed floating-point unit. [7] The Micro 16V was supported by a simple and flexibly sized executive that could optionally support multiprogramming, disc files and teletypes. [8] The Micro 16V used semiconductor memory, rather than magnetic-core memory as in the previous models. [9]
Digico primarily sold into the data logging market until 1969, when it expanded into areas like process control, stock control and front-end processors for the ICL 1900 mainframe. [1] [10] In 1974 Digico had a turnover of over £1 million (equivalent to £13 million in 2023) and in 1977 well over £1 million. [11] [12]
In 1978 the Digico Micro 16E stackable minicomputer, which was well suited to an office environment, won a Design Council Award for Engineering Products. [13] [14]