Highlights from 1994 follow...

Acorn Computers Australia head office expands into new premises

The new Acorn premises provide a range of facilities to customers including a large training facility.

Acorn sponsors BETT show in London

Acorn hosts a continuous programme of free theatre presentations and demonstrations of the latest developments in educational technology.

Acorn also sponsors the Special Needs Village and the Education IT Year Lunch.

As one of the few computer companies to have been present at every single BETT since the show began in 1984, Acorn Computers also contributes to the 10th anniversary celebrations.

Acorn in EU partnership for exchangeable media

Commencement of the MAGDRIVE Project, in partnership with Myrica of Scotland and Nomai of France. The partners are developing an advanced cartridge-based magnetic disc drive system. The project is being supported under the European Community ESPRIT Framework for industrial co-operation.

New Literacy - UK-wide initiative announced

Sam Wauchope (MD of the Acorn Computer Group) announces the start of Acorn Computers New Literacy programme, a nationwide debate to explore the social implications of the emerging information superhighway.

VLSI increases commitment to ARM products

VLSI Technology Inc renews and extends its ARM licence to cover the new ARM Debug, Multiplier and ARM8 family.

Acorn Computers bring Photo CD capability to the Acorn platform

Following its strategic licensing deal with Eastman Kodak, Acorn releases a version of the Kodak Photo CD Access Software (!Photoview), providing users with access to state-of-the-art imaging technology.

Acorn Australia expansion continues

Acorn Computers Australia employs additional educational sales staff for the direct sales operation in Sydney. Experienced in education and sales, the new team will strengthen Acorn position as a world-class educational computer company.

ARM in design tool agreement

Compass Design Tools sign contract with ARM to provide tools to aid the design of ARMs future generations of chips.

ARM UK expands operation with move to new premises

ARM moves from its barn outside Cambridge to a larger, and newly renovated Victorian Waterworks building in Cherry Hinton, Cambridge.

ARM founder announces worlds first asynchronous processor

Professor Steve Furber, one of ARMs fathers back in the mid-1980s at Acorn, leads a group researching asynchronous computer chip design, which promises speed and power savings.

Acorn announces the Risc PC - world first dual processor RISC personal computer

The Acorn Risc PC is based on a new architecture offering significantly increased speed and graphics, and enhanced functionality and connectivity. The Risc PCs performance is enabled by: the ARM 610 RISC processor; full 24-bit colour support; unique second processor capability, offering users access to other environments such as DOS or Windows; and an innovative modular case design allowing easy and low-cost expansion. Compatible with over 90 per cent of existing RISC OS software, the Acorn Risc PC was launched with over 3,000 software applications already available. The Risc PC features Acorns Open Bus architecture which enables additional processors to be added.

Acorn sets the pace in European languages initiative

Acorn, Editel (Italy) and Intrasoft (Greece) form a partnership to develop multimedia technology suited to the production of distance learning courseware. The project is being supported under the European Community ESPRIT Framework for industrial co-operation.

ARM collaborates in smarter card project

The European Commission CASCADE collaboration into advanced smart cards is announced.

ARMs used by IBM and VLSI

IBM and VLSI announce that the first implementation of IBMs new peripheral communication standard, the Serial Storage Architecture, will be ARM-based.

ARM licensees expand in Korea

Electronics giant, Samsung, becomes the latest licensee of ARM technology.

Acorn Computers success at European Information Technology Conference

Acorn demonstrates its RISC-based ranges of desktop computers partially developed under ESPRIT initiatives. Conference delegates are impressed by the extent to which Acorn is bringing together European technology.

The Computers for Schools 94 initiative

Over 10,000 schools nationwide to start the 1994/5 school year with new computer equipment from Acorn as a result of the Tesco/Acorn Computers for Schools 94 scheme. The scheme ran from 18 April to 12 June. Now in its third year, the scheme has provided over 22,000 items of computer equipment and support materials from Acorn.

Educational excellence from Acorn Australia

Acorn announces the opening of the Coffs Harbour Acorn Education Centre. Schools in the NSW North Coast and the Northern Tableland area now have access to a fully staffed focal point for educational excellence in the region.

ARM integral to new communication chip

Communicate and VLSI announce the ARM-based Ruby data/fax modem chip.

Moving ARMs in Japan

Japanese mobile communication specialist AKM licenses ARM technology.

Olivetti/Acorn Computer Group announce the formation of Online Media

Online Media, an operating division of the Acorn Computer Group, is set up to design world-class, interactive multimedia products in hardware, software and services to address the emerging mass markets for interactive multimedia. Northern Telecom/BNR announce a partnership agreement to work with Online Media in this field.

Acorn launches television technology on the desktop

In conjunction with Anglia Television, WildVision and Computer Concepts, Acorn launches an MPEG capability which delivers television quality video and audio to Risc PC owners. The launch takes place at the Interactive Learning 94 Conference in Edinburgh.

ARM in the heart of Silicon Valley

ARM Inc is established, as a wholly owned subsidiary company, in Silicon Valley to continue ARMs US penetration.

ARM in Japanese expansion

ARM KK is formed as a wholly owned subsidiary company, and gets new Tokyo office.

Faster and smaller parts for ARM

VLSI announces .6 micron ARM6, 610 operating at clock speeds up to 40MHz.

Real Time Operating System port to ARM

Perihelion ports its Helios Real Time Operating System to ARM.

Acorn gives the educational Advantage

Acorn launches Advantage scheme. Advantage rewards schools with points for purchasing Acorn computers. Schools can collect points from parents who purchase Acorn computers and these can be put towards a range of educational support materials from musical instruments to gymnasium equipment. In the first month, schools request over 500,000 parent packs.

Acorn Australia sponsors the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)

Acorn is a major sponsor of the Inaugural National Excellence in Teaching Awards. The awards, advertised through a national media campaign to every Australian parent and school, are designed to promote appreciation and recognition for teachers who demonstrate excellence.

Acorn launches new palmtop technology to UK education

Acorn releases a truly practical and economical solution to ensure each school-child in the UK has access to a personal computer, with the introduction of its new Acorn Pocket Book II.

ARM chips in new low-cost ATM cards

Advanced Telecommunication Modules (ATM) Ltd announces its intention to use ARM chips in its ATM network products.

Online Media head consortium to provide world beating, interactive TV trial

Online Media switches on the world first interactive TV trial, based on ATM from servers to set-top boxes. Online Media acts as the system integrator in the Cambridge trial and provides the set-top boxes.

Acorn Computers launches Photo CD for Education initiative

Acorn, Kodak and the Cambridge Digital Imaging Centre announce a national promotion which will bring professional quality digital imaging at high street prices to schools and colleges in the UK.

DoH - Acting for Health Sponsorship Gala

Pupils from five schools receive awards at Planet Hollywood on 20 October for the winning entries in Acting for Health - Drugs, Smoking and Alcohol Misuse, a national schools competition run by the Department of Health and sponsored by Acorn Computers.

Educated Riscs - the 1994 Acorn Education Conference in Sydney

Acorn hosts the 4th Annual Acorn Education Conference in Sydney.

Acorn computers for the Early Years

Acorn announces a new hardware and software bundle targeted at the family. The Early Years has software to support the education of children aged between three and nine years.

Acorn Computers and P&O European Ferries surf the information super-sea-way

Acorn Computers and P&O European Ferries have joined forces to bring fun and creative computing to cross-Channel travel. Acorn has provided P&O with Early Years computers for its children's play areas on the Portsmouth to Le Havre crossing.

Acorn World - showcase for Acorn Computer Group's RISC products

Held in Wembley, Acorn World is one of the few manufacturer-specific shows remaining on the exhibition circuit. This year visitor numbers increased to over twelve and a half thousand. Many exhibitors announced that this was the most successful show they had ever attended.

Acorn Computers announce loyalty programme

Acorn announce a club to bring the people who use Acorn computers together with those designing and making them. All members of Clan Acorn 94 receive a membership card and offers from Acorn. The first will be the chance to take out an Acorn Visa card, believed to be unique in the computer industry.

Acorn announces IBMs Blue Micro to manufacture Risc PC 486 card

The Acorn Risc PC 486 card, which is being produced in partnership with Aleph One and F.T.D.I., will be made in Blue Micro's plant in Italy.

USA the forum for new chip announcement

At the Microprocessor Forum, ARM announces the ARM7500. This is a highly integrated ARM system on a chip, and will be used by Online Media and others.

ARMs growth continues

ARMs profitability is announced in Acorn's first half-year figures. Rapid growth is occurring due to successful licensing and design wins.

Risc PC storms onto German high streets

Leading German retailer, Karstadt, adds the Risc PC range to its portfolio.

ARM buys asynchronous processor rights

ARM buys rights to University of Manchester Asynchronous processor technology and its future developments.

Online Media in partnership with Olivetti and Microsoft

Olivetti/Online Media is announced as one of only five system integrators chosen by Microsoft to work with it on its Tiger interactive multimedia systems.

Online Media prophesies open systems are the key to the future of set-top interconnectivity

Online Media announces it is one of a small group of selected companies to be part of a set-top alliance with Oracle Corporation. Online and Oracle sign joint development and marketing agreement.

Online Media in alliance programme with DEC

Players include: Apple, Compression Labs, General Instrument, Goldstar, Mitsubishi, Online Media, Philips, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, Stellar One Corporation, and Zenith. The alliance further supports Online Media's position of ensuring compatibility between set-top boxes. This alliance supports DECs video server products.

Online Media to deliver the News at Ten at 10.05, 10.10, 10.20...

Online Media signs a co-operation agreement with Independent Television News to provide news materials set-top box trials. Users will be able to view the news on demand.

Acorn setting a new image for Europe

Acorn establishes partnership with leading ECRM image setter distributor in Europe. This will result in increased distribution for Acorn Publishing Systems in Europe.

Risc PC the only option for the Hong Kong Stock exchange

Acorn distributor AFE (part of Reuters) will provide Risc PCs as information terminals for brokers in the Hong Kong stock exchange. This will add to the 6000 Acorn computers already used by one of the world's leading financial institutions.

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