BBC Master AIV
The BBC Master AIV stood for Advanced Interactive Videodisc. This was essentially a BBC master Turbo with a SCSI interface and a Videodisk Filing System (VFS) ROM built in. This computer formed the basis of the BBC Domesday System.
BBC Domesday Project
The BBC Domesday Project was a partnership between Acorn Computers Ltd, Ltd, Philips, Logica and the BBC to mark the 900th anniversary of the original Domesday Book, an 11th century census of England.
The system consisted of a
- BBC Master System
- BBC LV ROM Player
- A set of BBC Domesday Discs for the LV ROM Player
- A color monitor
- A Trackball pointer device
The data on these discs was compiled between 1984 and 1986 and published in 1986. It included a new 'survey' of the United Kingdom, in which people, mostly school children, wrote about geography, history or social issues in their local area or just about their daily lives. This was linked with maps, and many colour photos, statistical data, video and 'virtual walks'. Over 1 million people participated in the project. The project also incorporated professionally-prepared video footage, virtual reality tours of major landmarks and other prepared datasets such as the 1981 census.
BBC Master Models
The BBC Master was produced in a few variations. Not all were produced in large quantities, and some of them are hard to find.
- Master 128 - First model of the Master series
- Master Turbo - Featured a 65C102 co-processor @4MHz
- Master AIV - Master Turbo with a SCSI interface and a Videodisc
- Master ET - For use on a network, only had RGB and Econet connectors
- Master 512 - Intel 80186 co-processor @ 10MHz to run DOS Plus and GEM
- Master Scientific - Prototype, NS32016 co-processor @ 8MHz
- Master Compact - Compact version of the 128
MOS 6502 CPU
The 6502 is an 8-bit MicroProcessor designed by MOS Technology. The team was led by Chuck Peddle and had also worked on the Motorola 6800. The 6502 is a simplified, but faster and cheaper design than the 6800.
The 6502 was introduced in 1975 and was the cheapest microprocessor on the market. Together with the Zilog Z80, the 6502 helped start the home computer revolution of the 1980s. The 6502 was used in a wide range of devices: the Atari 2600, the 8-bit Atari home computers, the Apple II, the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Commodore 64, the BBC Micro and many others. All used the 6502 or a variation of it.
The 6502 is a 1MHz design, while the 6502A is designed for 2MHz. The 6502A is 100% compatible with the original 6502.
Commodore soon bought MOS Technology, but conitnued to sell the microprocessor to competitors and licensed the design to other manufacturers.
Source: WikiPedia - MOS Technology 6502320x256 4 colors
160x256 8 colors Best Color 8 colors Best Graphics 160x256 in 8 colors Sprites none System OS Acorn MOS
DOS Plus (optional) Storage External Tape