Olivetti M380/C (Pandora Project)

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Olivetti 380/C Personal Computer used in the Pandora Project
Machine type: XP 1050 1988

ME916 4MB RAM Card
GO723 – HD/FD Controller ST506RLL
GO481 – Paradise VGA PVGA1A
Western Digital WD8003EBT Ethernet Card.
Siemens ESCC2-Userboard 2 Channel Enhanced Serial Communication Controller with a Siemens 80186 CPU

The really interesting fact behind this machine is that it was used by the Olivetti Research team involved with the Pandora Project - as indicated by the label on the reverse of the keyboard.

The Pandora project was an experimental system for multimedia applications instigated by Andy Hopper in conjunction with Olivetti Research Laboratory Trumpington St., Cambridge, UK, CB2 1QA and the University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory, Downing Place, Cambridge, UK, B23QG

The project investigated the use of multimedia workstations in a working environment with particular emphasis on digital video. It endeavoured to place a camera on the desktop to make generation of multimedia documents as easy as producing text. They aimed to produce a number of new applications as well as to provide insights into the way computer systems should be designed.

The project is in three stages. In the first a peripheral, Pandora's Box, has been designed. This box can be attached to any one of a range of workstations and provides multimedia features. In the second stage a number of such systems are being deployed amongst a community of systems developers and application writers. Finally we will use the experimental system in our daily work to evaluate new applications. From the users point of view the normal workstation environment is maintained but additional features are available.

Very kindly donated by Andy Taylor of RetroComputers.Online

Manufacturer: Olivetti
Date: 1988

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Olivetti M380/C (Pandora Project) Manuals:

Item	Manufacturer	Date
Olivetti DE 520 System General Manual	Olivetti	Unknown
Olivetti DE523 System and Serial Printers	Olivetti	Unknown
Olivetti BCS 3030 Operators' Guide	Olivetti	1978
Acorn Atom Disc Pack Manual	Acorn Computers	1981
Olivetti ET 111 Daisy Wheel Typewriter Manual	Olivetti	1983

Olivetti M380/C (Pandora Project) Articles:

Item	Manufacturer	Date
Pandora: Pandoring To Big Brother		1992
Memories - Recollections of a Typewriter Mechanic	John Holman	22 Aug 2012
LEO, Olivetti e i primi computercommerciali in Europa:un'occasione perduta?		2018

Magazines RELATED to Olivetti M380/C (Pandora Project) in our Library

Item	Manufacturer	Date
Practical Computing - June 1988		Unknown
Personal Computer World - May 1996		Unknown
Personal Computer World - November 1980		Nov 1980
Personal Computer World - September 1982		1 Sep 1982
Practical Computing - August 1983		Aug 1983
Practical Computing - December 1983		Dec 1983
Practical Computing - March 1984		Mar 1984
Practical Computing - April 1984		Apr 1984
Practical Computing - May 1984		May 1984
Practical Computing - July 1984		Jul 1984
Personal Computer World - September 1984		Sep 1984
Byte October 1984		Oct 1984
Informatics November 1984		Nov 1984
Personal Computer World - November 1984		Nov 1984
Personal Computer World - November 1985		1 Nov 1985
Practical Computing - January 1986		Jan 1986
Personal Computer World Special: Business Computing The 1986 Survival Guide		Apr 1986
Personal Computer World - April 1986		1 Apr 1986
Practical Computing - May 1986		May 1986
Personal Computer World - May 1986		1 May 1986
Practical Computing - June 1986		Jun 1986
Personal Computer World - June 1986		1 Jun 1986
Practical Computing - July 1986		Jul 1986
PC Management August 1986		Aug 1986
Personal Computer World - February 1987		1 Feb 1987
Personal Computer World - July 1987		1 Jul 1987
Practical Computing - January 1988		Jan 1988
Personal Computer World - June 1988		1 Jun 1988
Practical Computing - July 1988		Jul 1988
Byte October 1988		Oct 1988
PC World Focus March 1989 Number 1	Personal Computer World	Mar 1989
PC Shareware Magazine - Vol 1 No 1 - December 1990		Dec 1990
Byte March 1993		Mar 1993
Personal Computer World - January 1994		1 Jan 1994
Personal Computer World - February 1994		1 Feb 1994
PC Pro Issue 1 November 1994	Dennis	1 Nov 1994
PC Pro Issue 2 December 1994	Dennis	1 Dec 1994
PC Pro January 1995	Dennis	1 Jan 1995
Personal Computer World - October 1996		1 Oct 1996
Byte June 1988		Jun 1998
Acorn User - May 1983		6 May 2009
Byte September 1992		23 Sep 2009

Other Systems Related To Olivetti M380/C (Pandora Project):

Item	Manufacturer	Date
Olivetti BCS 3030	Olivetti	1979
Olivetti ETS 2010 with ET 115 Typewriter	Olivetti	1981
Olivetti Quaderno	Olivetti	1982
Olivetti M20 D	Olivetti	31st March 1982
Olivetti M21	Olivetti	1983
Olivetti M10	Olivetti	1st January 1983
Olivetti M290	Olivetti	1984
Olivetti M15 Plus	Olivetti	1st January 1985
Olivetti Prodest PC 128S	Olivetti	1987
Olivetti PC1 Prodest	Olivetti	1988
Olivetti Prodest PC1 HD	Olivetti	1988
Olivetti M290S	Olivetti	1989
Olivetti D33	Olivetti	1991
Olivetti PCS 286S	Olivetti	1991
Olivetti EO Personal Communicator 440	Olivetti	April 1993