Vision - About the museum The Museum of Computing is devoted to the history of computing and digital development. It is the only physical museum of it's kind in the UK dedicated to the history of computing. It is based on campus at the University of Bath in Swindon. The Museum is not simply a repository of artefacts, but has active displays as well as providing a forum for the provision of lectures. There is a mixture of permanent and temporary displays, many exhibits of which have been loaned by companies and other collectors.The Museum is keen to show former products of commercial computer companies, and welcomes such offers. It is supported by the Science Museum in Wroughton, the British Computer Society and Swindon Borough Council. |
Background Perhaps the best known display of computer exhibits is in the Science Museum in London. However, the Science Museum aims to cover the whole development of science and technology and the computing element of that must, therefore, always be limited. The Science Museum is an enthusiastic supporter of the Museum of Computing, partly because it would give greater scope for the display of computing exhibits owned by the Science Museum. The Computer Conservation Society was set up in 1989 as a joint venture between the Science Museum and the British Computer Society. Since then the volunteer efforts of the working parties of the Computer Conservation Society and the efforts of the Science Museum staff have resulted in the successful restoration to working order of a number of early computers. The Computer Conservation Society has no collection of its own and refers historic equipment elsewhere. The Bletchley Park Trust has done wonders to draw the public's attention to the magnificent work of the code breakers based there in World War Two.The first suggestion for a computer museum in Swindon was put forward by Jeremy Holt in 1989 and received encouragement from local computer companies during the next decade. However, it was only in January 2000 that serious progress was made with the establishment of a Steering Committee and a company limited by guarantee. The advent of the University of Bath and the development of the Oakfield Campus provided a unique opportunity for the proposed museum to be co-located on the Campus. Two members of the Steering Committee are from the University. However, there remained a gap – namely a museum devoted exclusively to the development of computers in this country. |
Mission and Strategy In establishing this new museum, it was the intention to work closely with all of the other groups described above and not in any sense to supplant them.The Museum of Computing will be devoted solely to the history computing and digital development. The Museum aims to:
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