The BBC Microcomputer, known as the BBC Micro, was a computing system which ran on BBC BASIC. It first released in December 1981 as part of the BBC’s Computer Literacy Project.

The Computer Literacy Project was launched alongside a BBC2 television series called ‘The Computer Programme’. This educational television series taught viewers about computer programming using BBC BASIC, which was a version of standard BASIC language. The Micro was developed as the BBC wanted a British electronic company to create a BASIC computer to accompany the TV show.

The contract was awarded to Acorn Computers, a Cambridge-based computing company founded in 1978. They had already produced a computer called the ‘Atom’, which had garnered them recognition. When they were approached by the BBC, Acorn were already in the process of developing a more advanced system called ‘Proton’, and the designers worked quickly to get it functioning. According to Acorn co-designer, Steve Furber, the Acorn team completed work on their prototype only three hours before the BBC arrived. Ultimately the ‘Proton’ was renamed the BBC Micro.

Although it initially targeted home-users, the BBC Micro had its most significant impact in the educational market. It was used in about 60% of primary schools and 85% of secondary schools when it was launched. The TV series was in fact delayed for a month because demand to buy the Micro was so great, especially after the Department of Trade and Industry launched a ‘Micros in Schools’ scheme.

The Micro was accompanied by a pack of instructions which encouraged creative programming. Instructions include how to create a kaleidoscopic pattern, a sketch, write a poem, play computer games, as well as create music. While the Micro encouraged users to write their own programs, the accompanying cassette tape also contained 16 programs for users.