Personal computer, 'ZX Spectrum', designed by Richard Altwasser and Rick Dickinson for Sinclair Research; United Kingdom, 1982-3

Small, rectangular personal computer, its black plastic case is in two parts which are joined horizontally. The rubber keyboard is moulded in one part, with the keys in relief. Each key projects through an individual rectangular opening on the face of the computer.

Purchased for the V&A exhibition 'British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age' [2014/755].

The Sinclair ZX Spectrum is an important example of late-20th century British industrial design, and represents a milestone in home computing. It succeeded Sinclair’s previous offering to the home computer market, the ZX81, which at the time was the world’s best-selling home computer. The name ‘Spectrum’ was chosen to highlight the range of colours that it could display compared to its black and white predecessor – a point further reinforced by the rainbow decal on its right-hand side. The new Spectrum had two main appeals for consumers: relative low cost and simplicity of use. Clive Sinclair had been explicit in his desire for an affordable machine. In this he hoped to undercut Sinclair Research’s rival, Acorn Computers, who had won a contract to work with the BBC to create the educational BBC Micro. The ZX Spectrum was available with a choice of two memory specifications: a 16k model available for £125 and a more powerful 48k version for £175. The BBC Micro retailed at £399. Ironically, the BBC’s marketing of the Acorn device did much to popularise personal computers, allowing Sinclair’s lower-priced machine to capitalise on the newfound interest in home computing.

Sinclair’s attempts to create an affordable machine resulted in, among other features, the Spectrum’s trademark rubber keyboard, developed to reduce the number of separate moving parts which would need to be manufactured. This keyboard has been described has possessing a texture of ‘dead flesh’, but was also notorious for the membrane located beneath the keypad which had a tendency to become brittle and crack, rendering the keyboard inoperable. This feature was supplanted in later models by individually moulded plastic keys.

The Spectrum was programmable with an easily-learned computer language known as BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). Programmes could range from simple animations, sequences of colours and lines, music played through a small speaker on the underside, to complex games. Sinclair attempted to make BASIC code even easier to input by incorporating command functions into the keyboard rather than having to type out an entire instruction, although as the number of commands grew, finding the correct combination of keys became increasingly difficult. This was changed in later models. The Spectrum lacked internal storage so programmes could be recorded onto standard audio cassettes, using a domestic cassette-player linked externally to the computer via cables included in the original package.

The blue-grey keys on this Spectrum means that it is an ‘issue 2’ of the original model, as opposed to the pale grey keys of the ‘issue 1’. Later models included 1984’s ZX Spectrum+ and the ZX Spectrum 128, released in 1986. New Spectrum models continued to be produced after Amstrad acquired Sinclair Research in 1986, up to the Spectrum +3B in the early 1990s, a tribute to the success and popularity of the design. The Museum of Childhood acquired a Spectrum+ in 2011 (see B.42-2011) in recognition of its important part in the history of amateur programming, as well as for its past appeal to young people.

The Spectrum boasted 8-bit processing power, making it as powerful as later dedicated Japanese games consoles such as the Sega Master System and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), both released in Europe in 1985. The Spectrum was initially designed as a tool for education in the home, but the simple-to-learn programming language meant that it became a hugely important breeding ground for video game design. As well as Sinclair Research’s own offerings, studios such as Ocean Software produced their first releases for the Spectrum, and important designers such as Jeff Minter, Julian Gollop and the Stamper brothers, Tim and Chris, were also very active on the platform. Anyone could create a game for the Spectrum, and this was even encouraged by various publishers. On the paper insert for one of the six games acquired with this Spectrum is printed: ‘PROGRAMMERS – If you have written a good programme, for ANY home computer, send it to us now for evaluation. We pay EXCELLENT royalties!! Your programme could be in shops within 3 weeks!!’

Throughout its retail life the Spectrum sold more than 5 million units worldwide. Indeed, so enduring is the Spectrum’s popularity that more than 24,000 titles have been released for it since 1982, over 100 in 2012 alone. A direct link can be seen with the contemporary Raspberry Pi computer, which aims to recapture the mid-1980s culture for ‘bedroom programming’ independent video games, as exemplified by the Spectrum.

This Spectrum was acquired with six games (see W.14 to 19-2016), spanning the years 1985 – 1989. Most games developed for the Spectrum were playable on all versions of the machine, and could also be played on other formats, such as the Commodore 64. The interest of these particular games lies in the fact that two of them were budget titles, very simple games available for under £3, and that three of them were spin-offs from other media: Run the Gauntlet (an ITV gameshow), Yogi Bear and Treasure Island. In the case of Yogi Bear, this was the first time that Hanna-Barbera had licenced the character to a video games developer.

The Sinclair ZX Spectrum is an important example of late-20th century British industrial design, and represents a milestone in home computing. The Spectrum was initially designed as a tool for education in the home, but the simple-to-learn programming language meant that it became a hugely important breeding ground for video game design. The Spectrum was programmable with an easily-learned computer language known as BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). Programmes could range from simple animations, sequences of colours and lines, music played through a small speaker on the underside, to complex games. Throughout its retail life the Spectrum sold more than 5 million units worldwide. Indeed so enduring is the Spectrum’s popularity that more than 24,000 titles have been released for it since 1982.

W.13:1 to 5-2016