Digico Limited

Digico was a British computer company founded in 1965 by Keith Trickett and Avo Hiiemae, two ex-ICL electronics engineers. Former MP Eric Lubbock became chairman in 1969.[1] The company was based in Letchworth initially, moving to a new factory in Stevenage in 1973[2] and employing about 90 staff.[3]

Digico Limited
IndustryComputer hardware
Founded1965
FoundersKeith Trickett and Avo Hiiemae
Headquarters
Stevenage
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Eric Lubbock (chairman)
Productsdata loggers, minicomputers

Digico's first product was a laboratory data-logging and spectrum analyser hardware system named DIGIAC. This product had been developed before Digico was formed, so was an immediate source of income.[1] Digico soon developed a 16-bit minicomputer series, the Micro 16, for which it was best known for.

Digico Micro 16

Digico quickly started developing a general purpose single accumulator 16-bit minicomputer, the Micro 16, which became available in 1966. Digico was assisted by the Ministry of Technology and the National Research Development Corporation in this development.[1][2][4] The first version produced was the Digico Micro 16S (1968), followed by the 16P (1970), then the 16V in 1972.[5][6]

Example applications
available for Micro 16V[7]
Animal feed mix control
Car park control
Census analysis
Electroencephalography
Gas chromatography
ICL 1900 front ending
Invoicing
Machine tool control
Mass spectrometry
Stock control
Typesetting

The Digico Micro 16V had a standard memory of 4k words with 950 nano second cycle time, expandable to 64k words, and able to support up to 64 external interfaces. It had an optional microprogrammed floating-point unit.[7] The Micro 16V was supported by a simple and flexibly sized executive that could optionally support multiprogramming, disc files and teletypes.[8] The Micro 16V used semiconductor memory, rather than magnetic-core memory as in the previous models.[9]

Digico primarily sold into the data logging market until 1969, when it expanded into areas like process control, stock control and front-end processors for the ICL 1900 mainframe.[1][10] In 1974 Digico had a turnover of over £1 million (equivalent to £10 million in 2019) and in 1977 well over £1 million.[11][12]

In 1978 the Digico Micro 16E stackable minicomputer, which was well suited to an office environment, won a Design Council Award for Engineering Products.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. Hamilton, Ross (June 1997). Continuous Path: The Evolution of ProcesControl Technologies in Post-War Britain (PDF). Department of Computer Science (Thesis). University of Warwick. pp. 116, 120, 126. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  2. "Rugged simplicity pays off in mini computer sales". New Scientist. 10 May 1973. p. 342. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  3. "About Digico". digico working group. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013.
  4. "NRDC backs low-cost computer". Electronics & Power. February 1968. doi:10.1049/ep.1968.0080. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. "Digico Hardware". digico working group. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013.
  6. Searle, Nigel (20 September 1973). "Computer problem-solver". New Scientist. p. 702. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  7. micro 16v computer manual (PDF) (Report). Digico Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  8. Digico Micro 16V Executive data sheet (pdf) (Report). Digico Limited. SA-5301-0-1. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  9. "Current Projects". digico working group. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013.
  10. "Small machine at the front". New Scientist. 23 September 1971. p. 688. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  11. "Minicomputer manufacturers in Britain". New Scientist. 6 June 1974. p. 602. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  12. Eiloart, Tim (2 February 1978). "Progress chaser". New Scientist. p. 292. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  13. "Micro 16E". Design Council Slide Collection. 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  14. "search - Micro 16E". Design Council Slide Collection. 1978. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
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