How Amateurs created the world’s most popular Processor (History of ARM Part 1)
LowSpecGamer・17 minutes read
Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry founded Acorn Computers in the late 1970s, recruiting talent from Cambridge University to create home computers that led to the development of the BBC Micro and the groundbreaking ARM chip designed by Sophie Wilson and Steve Ferber. The ARM chip's efficient design and power-saving features paved the way for its potential use in future smartphones, highlighting Acorn's innovative approach and challenges in reaching new markets like the US.
Insights
- Sophie Wilson and Steve Ferber developed the ARM chip, a power-efficient microprocessor inspired by the RISC approach, which led to groundbreaking advancements in computer technology.
- Acorn Computers, through strategic decisions like creating the BBC Micro for educational programs and developing the ARM chip, demonstrated a forward-thinking approach that paved the way for future innovations, despite facing challenges in expanding to markets like the US.
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Recent questions
Who founded Acorn Computers?
Hauser and Curry
What was the flagship computer developed for the BBC educational program?
BBC Micro
What approach inspired the design of the ARM chip?
RISC approach
What unique feature of the ARM chip allowed it to consume zero power?
Protection diodes on IO pins
What challenges did Acorn Computers face in reaching markets like the US?
Market expansion difficulties
Related videos
Summary
00:00
Acorn Computers: Pioneering ARM Chip Technology
- In the late 1970s, Hermann Hauser and Chris Curry, co-founders of Acorn Computers, aimed to enter the microprocessor and home computer industry.
- They recruited talented technicians, including PhD student Steve Ferber and undergrad Sophie Wilson, from the Cambridge University Processor Group.
- Acorn Computers launched the Acorn Atom, a pre-built home computer powered by Acorn BASIC, designed by Sophie Wilson.
- The company's success led to a debate among employees about producing workstations or home computers, resulting in the decision to create a dual-purpose computer.
- Acorn Computers seized an opportunity presented by the BBC to develop a flagship computer for an educational program, leading to the creation of the BBC Micro.
- The BBC Micro faced technical challenges, particularly with the video processor, which was resolved with the help of BLSI Technologies.
- Acorn Computers explored newer processors like the Motorola 6800 and National Semiconductor 32016 but found them overly complex and minimally beneficial.
- The team decided to design their microprocessor, inspired by the Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) approach from Berkeley and Stanford.
- Sophie Wilson and Steve Ferber designed the ARM chip, aiming for simplicity and efficiency, meeting strict heat and power requirements.
- The ARM chip successfully booted BBC BASIC, consuming zero power due to a unique feature involving protection diodes on the IO pins.
15:55
"Power-efficient device revolutionizes tech industry"
- The device being discussed in the text was unexpectedly power efficient, running solely on leaked current. This efficiency led to the possibility of aiming for more than just an expansion to the BBC micro or a next-generation computer, potentially becoming the chip inside all phones in the future.
- The text also mentions the challenges faced by Acorn, a forward-thinking computer company, in reaching markets like the US. This story is explored in an episode of the Sidequest Might Size Series, featuring an interview with Professor Ferber, available exclusively on Nebula, a creator-owned streaming service offering early access to videos and discounts for viewers supporting creators.
