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Library • Museum • OS100 • PART 1
 

Room 16

A young girl, Joanne, watching the MAVIS TV output. Seated in her wheelchair with two wiper switches int front of her. Her Mum, Sylvia, helps to steady her hand so she can make deliberate choices. Walls are clad with wooden floorboards. Narrow waist height book case and electric fire in view, with lots of brass ornaments. MAVIS computer within a black briefcase sits on a small side table.

MAVIS (1975-1981)

The first portable computer system aimed at disabled people that covered creativity, communication, leisure and environmental control: The Microprocessor Audio-Visual Information System.

Backed by the UK government, this pioneering British computer deserves to be remembered.
 


MAVIS Mk.II computer by Ferranti (circa 1979). Colour TV to the left with questionnaire displayed. Interface box back. Printer right. A couple of foam switches under the table.MAVIS II computer system (c.1979)

Room 16 Exhibits

No MK II Ferranti or original Mk I MAVIS machines have survived to the best of my research. However, in 2026, data was retrieved from original MAVIS data cassettes, including all four games. These have been simulated, although the matrix system is not implemented yet. Use a switch set to SPACE BAR to play TARGET. Will work with an On Screen Keyboard too.

• Play MAVIS games
• Play BBC Micro Shooting Gallery
• Play BBC Micro Snap 
• Play BBC Micro Simon
• Play SPOC
• Spotify
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• OCR version of 1981 Aids Book
• Fuzzypeg Goes to School
• Dr Julia Schofield MBE and tribute
• Dr Christopher Evans
• Reginald Maling
• New Worlds 1969 - Scans and Game
• Crash
• National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
• NPL Speech Recognition Group
• Stardot: MAVIS tape recovery
• Credits
• Disclaimer

• One Switch 100 Home

 
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