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Computer History Museum Slovenia

Coordinates: 46°04′09″N 14°29′25″E / 46.06919599809453°N 14.49037041534343°E / 46.06919599809453; 14.49037041534343
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This article is about Computer History Museum Slovenia. For other computer museums in the world, see List of computer museums.
Computer History Museum Slovenia
Front of Computer History Museum Slovenia
Map
Established2004; 20 years ago (2004)
LocationCelovška 111, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Coordinates46°04′09″N 14°29′25″E / 46.06919599809453°N 14.49037041534343°E / 46.06919599809453; 14.49037041534343
TypeComputer museum
Websitewww.racunalniski-muzej.si

The Computer History Museum Slovenia (Slovene: Računalniški muzej) is a museum in Slovenia dedicated to preserving the history of computing and digital heritage. Highlighting computer artifacts tied to global computer history, the museum also presents a substantial collection of items linked to early Yugoslav and Slovene computer systems.

Overview

Located in the Šiška District of Ljubljana[1], museum claims to host more than 6,500 collection items housed within its 700 m2 (7,500 sq ft) premises.[2] The museum also functions as a makerspace and an event space for festivals, film shoots, coworking, conferences, public presentations and meetups.[3]

The Computer History Museum is designated as a UNESCO Software Heritage Ambassador and is an active member of the DOORS – Digital Incubator of Museums network.[4][5]

History

Dr Mark Baldwin holds a talk on the Enigma machine in the museum

The museum's origins are intertwined with the Cyberpipe (Slovene: Kiberpipa) hackerspace, which functioned as a cultural center and hacklab. Founded by Cyberpipe hackers, the museum emerged as an integral part of the hackerspace, later becoming a separate entity. Having evolved through various incarnations since 2004, the museum initially found its home in the basement space of a student organization. At one point, the museum lost its own exhibition spaces and refocused on travelling exhibitions in other institutions. The museum gained the attention of a sponsor in 2017 who acquired a quarter of the architecturally significant brutalist building designed by Miloš Bonča. They funded its renovation, with the vision of transforming it into the future home of the museum.[6] In 2019. the museum found its home within the former commercial pavilion building.

In 2022, the Computer History Museum hosted Jason Scott, an American archivist and technology historian affiliated with the Internet Archive and known for his documentary film BBS: The Documentary[7], which explores the world of Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs).

In 2023, a hands-on demonstration featuring an authentic Enigma machine took place within the premises of the museum. The event was conducted by Dr. Mark Baldwin[8]. Attendees were given the opportunity to closely observe the artifact and to interact with it firsthand, allowing them to touch, photograph, and even play with the machine.[9]

Exhibits

Slovenian computer, Triglav, and a t-shirt featuring its design

Most of the computers and devices are completely restored and functioning so visitors can try them and even use custom programs made by the museum. Early home computers and PCs are present, such as TI-99/4A, TRS-80, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Atari 800, Apple II and IBM PC. DEC mainframe-like systems, terminals, and mainframe computer cabinets are on display. Computer systems from Slovenia and former Yugoslavia are featured in the museum, including Gorenje Delta PAKA 3000, Iskra Delta Partner, Triglav, TIM-011 and Orao. Czechoslovakian analog computer MEDA 41TC is partially restored and displayed.

The museum houses an extensive collection of software, many of which are connected to Slovenia. It offers exploration into Yugoslav and Slovene MS-DOS programs and games, as well as showcases Slovenian Linux distributions and their historical significance. Additionally, there are various operating systems on display, including Windows 3.1x, Windows 95, MS-DOS, Mac OS, OS/2, and several Unix variants. Special attention is dedicated to Slovenian localized versions of operating systems.

Regarding data archiving devices and storage media, the museum claims to exhibit a diverse showcase. Visitors have the opportunity to use the IBM 129 keypunch machine to input their preferred data onto punched cards.[10] Additionally, they can engage in classic gaming by playing games from discs, tapes, or cartridges. The collection of old telecommunication devices of various kinds is present, including early modems and acoustic couplers.

Research

The museum's team is actively delving into the history of computing in Slovenia, leading to the publication of several articles in the museum's publications. Notably, they have compiled a timeline highlighting the inaugural use of computers in Slovenia dating back to 1956.[11] The museum's website features a dedicated section showcasing a comprehensive list of these computers. This list is categorized by year, type, location, and associated institution, complete with the necessary references for each entry.

The team has also crafted numerous articles spotlighting the pioneering domestic computer system manufacturers in Slovenia, including notable entities like Iskra Delta. This company, situated in the former Yugoslavia with a significant presence in Slovenia, was dedicated to the production of minicomputers and computer-related innovations throughout the 1970s and beyond. In these articles, the museum examines the company's production history, historical progression, anecdotes, and milestones related to Iskra Delta, providing a comprehensive view of its legacy.

See also

References

  1. ^ Računalniški muzej » Visit Ljubljana, visitljubljana.com, August 17, 2023
  2. ^ '6500 primerkov, ki so spremenili družbo iz analogne v digitalno', 24ur.com, August 10, 2023
  3. ^ Čisto pravi Računalniški muzej v Ljubljani, slo-tech.com, August 10, 2023
  4. ^ Slovenia's Most Famous Computer That Helped Lead to Independence, startup.si, August 10, 2023
  5. ^ Slovenia's Digital Incubator | Stage I, ars.electronica.art, August 10, 2023
  6. ^ Računalniki v Šiški | Radio Študent, radiostudent.si, August 10, 2023
  7. ^ "BBS: The Documentary". Bbsdocumentary.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  8. ^ Dr Mark Baldwin | Alumni - University of Cambridge, alumni.cam.ac.uk, August 11, 2023
  9. ^ World-renowned expert Dr. Mark Baldwin - "Dr. Enigma" captivates Slovenian cryptography enthusiasts with his lecture - Park vojaške zgodovine, parkvojaskezgodovine.si, August 11, 2023
  10. ^ Izdelaj svojo luknjalno kartico v Kiberpipi, racunalniske-novice.com, August 11, 2023
  11. ^ Prvi računalniki v Sloveniji, muzej.si, August 11, 2023

Category:Museums in Ljubljana Category:Computer museums Category:Šiška District Category:Tourist attractions in Ljubljana Category:Computer clubs Category:Hackerspaces Category:Cultural venues in Ljubljana Category:Organizations based in Slovenia Category:2004 establishments in Slovenia Category:Internet in Slovenia Category:Communications in Yugoslavia

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