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About
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A Brief History
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The society was set up as the St John's College Microcomputer Society
(shortened to Microsoc) in 1978 by several members of the college to provide an
environment to discuss, use and build microcomputers. Originally the club used early home computers such the Commodore Pet, the RML 308Z and a home-built 6800 system. In 1979, the club had changed into the Oxford University Microcomputer Society that exists today. Membership had increased to over 100 and the society gained the use of five research machines which were used for a mixture of game playing and programming. The society arranged regular speaker meetings on a wide variety of topics including:
The Society gained a base in the newly installed Orion Computer Room in the NAPL in 1985 but at the same time, the society's membership and bank balance fell. The Society recovered over the next couple of years, organising trips to the Atari Computer Show and to Research Machines Development Centre and holding a number of lectures. The society enjoyed the facilities provided by the Multi-User computer and introduced its members to email via a linkup with the VAX. The society's long-term relationship with Acorn paid off in 1992 when they donated an A3000 for general use by the members. In 1993, Microsoc's home became the NeXT room in the NAPL where it promoted members' interest in email, USENET, the World Wide Web and using the internet as well as programming skills. The society organised weekly information sessions, visits to computer manufacturers and computer shows, maintained a small library, and sold reduced-price disks to its members. In Trinity term 1995 the society acquired a new hard disk drive to increase its service to members. The society also changed its name to 'The Oxford University Computer Society' and revised its consititution to reflect an increasing emphasis on the Internet. In Trinity term 1996, the society was donated a Digital Pentium PC by Progress Computer Systems, and two other computers were aquired, the plan being to run Linux on them and connect them to the University Network. In the Michaelmas term of that year, the society completed its change of direction with an aim of giving members basic computer facilities as provided by OUCS and colleges and an emphasis on regular speaker meetings, hands-on practical sessions and social events. In 1998, the Society was donated another machine, by DecisionSoft Ltd. This initially ran NT, but was later swapped with another of the machines and became the main user box. In the same year, all the machines were moved to Trinity College, where space was kindly provided by Alastair Johnson, the Trinity College Computing Officer. The Society continued to hold a busy calender of events each term. In 1999, the society flourished. With a record intake of new members and established sponsorship links with industry. In 2000 we did not lose all our files on the 1st January. Hilary term saw the 21st Aniversary of the society dinner. The future for the next 21 years looks extremely bright for the Oxford University Computer Society.
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