Smaky
Encyclopedia
The Smaky is a line of mostly 8-bit personal computer
s and accompanying operating system developed by Professor Jean-Daniel Nicoud
and others at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
in Switzerland
beginning in 1974. The computers were used at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and in Swiss schools. The names derives from SMArt KeYboard, reflecting the form factor that contained a compact motherboard
which fit within the same housing as the keyboard
.
The first three models, Smaky 1, Smaky 2, and Smaky 4, were based on the Intel 8080
microprocessor (Smaky 3 was a prototype that was never completed). In 1978 the Smaky switched to using the 8-bit Zilog Z80
processor. A portable Smaky was made during this period, which resembled Osborne
portable computers.
In 1981 the platform again changed to the 32-bit Motorola 68000
processor. A new operating system was written, called Psos
, which was developed specifically for the Smaky, and used on all subsequent models.
Development work on the Smaky hardware ended in 1995. A Smaky emulator for Microsoft Windows
was developed in 2000.
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s and accompanying operating system developed by Professor Jean-Daniel Nicoud
Jean-Daniel Nicoud
Jean-Daniel Nicoud , is a Swiss computer scientist, noted for inventing of a computer mouse with an optical encoder and the CALM Common Assembly Language for microprocessors....
and others at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
beginning in 1974. The computers were used at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and in Swiss schools. The names derives from SMArt KeYboard, reflecting the form factor that contained a compact motherboard
Motherboard
In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, or, on Apple...
which fit within the same housing as the keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
.
The first three models, Smaky 1, Smaky 2, and Smaky 4, were based on the Intel 8080
Intel 8080
The Intel 8080 was the second 8-bit microprocessor designed and manufactured by Intel and was released in April 1974. It was an extended and enhanced variant of the earlier 8008 design, although without binary compatibility...
microprocessor (Smaky 3 was a prototype that was never completed). In 1978 the Smaky switched to using the 8-bit Zilog Z80
Zilog Z80
The Zilog Z80 is an 8-bit microprocessor designed by Zilog and sold from July 1976 onwards. It was widely used both in desktop and embedded computer designs as well as for military purposes...
processor. A portable Smaky was made during this period, which resembled Osborne
Osborne 1
The Osborne 1 was the first commercially successful portable microcomputer, released on April 3, 1981 by Osborne Computer Corporation. It weighed 10.7 kg , cost USD$ 1795, and ran the then-popular CP/M 2.2 operating system...
portable computers.
In 1981 the platform again changed to the 32-bit Motorola 68000
Motorola 68000
The Motorola 68000 is a 16/32-bit CISC microprocessor core designed and marketed by Freescale Semiconductor...
processor. A new operating system was written, called Psos
PSOS
pSOS is a real time operating system , created in about 1982 by Alfred Chao, and developed/marketed for the first part of its life by his company Software Components Group...
, which was developed specifically for the Smaky, and used on all subsequent models.
Development work on the Smaky hardware ended in 1995. A Smaky emulator for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
was developed in 2000.
External links
- Smaky history from A History of Computing in Switzerland
- Fosfat (FOS library and FUSE extension for GNU/Linux)