ZX Spectrum at 40: celebrate with Crispin Sinclair, Richard Altwasser and Steve Vickers at The National Museum of Computing
If the 1980s put computers in the home, then Sir Clive Sinclair’s ZX Spectrum - which celebrates its 40th anniversary in April - put coding in the bedroom.
Sir Clive’s laser-like focus on cost efficiency and technical innovation yielded a system of such power and at such an incredibly low-price that a generation could turn their silicon dreams into digital realities. Yesterday’s coders became today’s entrepreneurs, creatives, technologists - and more.
The National Museum of Computing celebrates this legacy with an event on April 23 where you will hear from some of those behind the story - and experience the ZX Spectrum in action.
Sir Clive’s son, Crispin Sinclair will join us for a hosted discussion sharing his unique insight into the life and work of his dad - the legendary technology pioneer and entrepreneur.
We reunite two of the architects behind the ZX Spectrum’s success: hardware designer Richard Altwasser and Dr Steve Vickers, responsible for the ROM and user manuals of the ZX Spectrum and ZX81. Join Richard and Steve for a moderated chat and Q&A tackling all things ZX Spectrum and Sinclair.
And, yes, we break out the games: a selection of some of the best loved titles available to play on our collection of ZX Spectrums in a tournament with prizes for top scorers!
This is an in-person and an online occasion. You can attend in person at our museum, where you will be invited to sit in on the discussions, participate in the games tournament, take a tour of the museum and mingle, with refreshments served. Discussions are available on Zoom.
Schedule for the Day:
10:30: Museum opens to the public
11:00: Refreshments served in the Meeting Room
11:00-12:30: Visitors are invited to explore the Museum and participate in the Sinclair Retro Gaming Competition
12:30-13:15: Lunch/Networking in the First Generation Gallery
13:30-14:00: Live Q&A with Crispin Sinclair (Livestreamed for virtual attendees)
14:15-14:45: Live Q&A with Dr Steve Vickers and Richard Altwasser (Livestreamed for virtual attendees)
15:00-17:00: Visitors are invited to explore the Museum and participate in the Sinclair Retro Gaming Competition
17:00-17:30: Highest score winners announced for the Sinclair Retro Gaming Competition
Refreshments (tea, coffee, juice, water and biscuits) and a buffet lunch will be provided.
