MCM built several prototypes of the MCM/70 before the computer's manufacturing began in mid-1974. The first attempt at such a prototype was a single-board computer put together by MCM's chief hardware engineer José Laraya in mid 1972. His prototype utilized an Intel SIM8-01 simulation board which the semiconductor company offered to electronics engineers for experimentation with its novel microprocessor and memory devices. Laraya's hardware also included Intel's MP7-02 programming card which was used to port the MCM version of the APL programming language into memory of the next generation of the MCM/70's prototypes.
In the end the MCM/70's requirements proved far too extensive to be fully implemented around the SIM8-01 card. However, Laraya's prototype confirmed that building a versatile microprocessor-based computer was feasible. This first prototype turnd out to be a valuable tool for early experimentation with microprocessor technology and concept evaluation at MCM. Eventually, the company designed its MCM/70 computer completely from the ground up.
Shown in the exhibit: the first prototype of the MCM/70.
Background image: José Laraya, former MCM vice
president in charge of engineering development inspects the first prototype
of the MCM/70 at York University in 2011.
Photograph by Z. Stachniak, 2011.
