How Amateurs created the world’s most popular Processor (History of ARM Part 1)

Summary

In the late 1970s, Acorn Computers, led by Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry, faced an impossible task: create a revolutionary computer for the BBC in just one week. With brilliant engineers like Sophie Wilson and Steve Furber, they developed the BBC Micro, a pivotal moment in UK tech. However, their true legacy was the creation of the ARM architecture—a simple, power-efficient microprocessor that would go on to dominate mobile technology worldwide. Despite Acorn's eventual downfall, ARM's legacy reshaped computing, highlighting how innovation can emerge from pressure, necessity, and strategic risk.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry founded Acorn Computers in Cambridge with a bold vision to revolutionize home computing.
• 😀 Acorn's success was fueled by recruiting talented individuals from the University of Cambridge, including Steve Furber and Sophie Wilson.
• 😀 The company’s first major product, the Acorn Atom, was built around the inexpensive MOS 6502 microprocessor and showcased Acorn's engineering skill.
• 😀 Acorn's strategy to raise funds by pre-selling a computer they hadn't yet built was risky but effective, allowing them to fund the production of the Acorn Atom.
• 😀 Acorn faced internal debates on whether to focus on home computers or workstations, eventually blending both concepts into their next product, codenamed Proton.
• 😀 The BBC's need for a flagship computer for an educational TV program presented a huge opportunity, leading Acorn to rush the development of the BBC Micro.
• 😀 Hermann Hauser used a clever strategy to motivate the team by convincing them that they had only a week to prepare a working prototype of the BBC Micro.
• 😀 Despite the impossible deadline, Acorn's team succeeded in delivering a prototype that impressed the BBC, securing a lucrative contract for millions of computers.
• 😀 The BBC Micro was developed using innovative semiconductor technology, including semi-custom chips that simplified the design process.
• 😀 Acorn’s engineers, Sophie Wilson and Steve Furber, pushed the boundaries of processor design by pioneering ARM (Acorn RISC Machine), an energy-efficient chip based on Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC).
• 😀 The creation of ARM, designed to be simple yet powerful, led to a breakthrough in chip design, influencing modern devices like smartphones and tablets.
• 😀 Despite Acorn's technological breakthroughs, the company failed to expand internationally, with the BBC Micro and ARM’s potential not fully realized outside the UK.

Q & A

What was the impossible task that Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry were given?

They were asked to build a computer that would change the destiny of an entire generation in just one week.

What key talent did Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry need to help their company succeed?

They needed talented technicians, which led them to the Cambridge University processor group, where they discovered Steve Furber and Sophie Wilson.

Why did Chris Curry choose the name 'Acorn Computers' for the company?

Chris Curry wanted a name that would appear ahead of 'Apple' in the phonebook and referenced the old English saying, 'Big oaks from small acorns grow.'

What was the Acorn Atom, and why was it significant?

The Acorn Atom was a pre-built home computer designed around the MOS 6502 microprocessor. It was significant because it was one of the first commercially available, fully packaged home computers in the UK.

How did Acorn Computers secure funding for their development of the Acorn Atom?

They used a 'sell first, produce later' approach, taking pre-orders by advertising the Atom in a major electronics magazine before production began.

What challenge did Acorn Computers face when deciding their next product after the Acorn Atom?

They were divided between developing workstations for businesses or continuing to focus on home computers, ultimately deciding on a dual-purpose system that could serve both markets.

How did the BBC become involved with Acorn Computers?

The BBC was producing a TV program to educate the public about computers and needed a flagship machine for the program. Acorn saw this as an opportunity to secure a lucrative government contract.

What role did Hermann Hauser play in ensuring Acorn met the BBC's tight deadline?

Hermann Hauser encouraged Sophie Wilson and Steve Furber to promise the BBC a prototype of the Proton in a week, which set off a frantic development sprint to meet the deadline.

What key issue did Acorn face during the development of the BBC Micro's chips?

The video processor chip was temperature-sensitive, causing pixel breakups on the screen after the machine heated up. This issue was later resolved by using a different fabrication method from VLSI Technologies.

What innovation did Acorn's team make that would change the future of computing?

Acorn developed the ARM (Acorn RISC Machine) microprocessor, a revolutionary design based on a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC), which became the foundation for modern smartphones and other devices.

How did the ARM processor's power efficiency become a key breakthrough?

The ARM processor was so power-efficient that it was initially discovered to be running on leaked current, which was a sign of its groundbreaking energy efficiency and minimal heat generation.

What was the fate of Acorn Computers after the success of the ARM processor?

Despite the success of the ARM processor, Acorn Computers did not achieve commercial success, particularly outside of the UK. The ARM technology would later be adopted and further developed by other companies like Apple.