‘Tech for Good’ and Rare Prototypes - Cambridge Wide Open Day with SJIC - Wednesday 17th June 2026

17th June 2026
‘Tech for Good’ and Rare Prototypes - Cambridge Wide Open Day with SJIC - Wednesday 17th June 2026

The Centre for Computing History is teaming up with St John's Innovation Centre (SJIC) at this year’s Cambridge Wide Open Day!

On Wednesday 17 June 2026, join founders, innovators, researchers and community leaders for an inspiring morning panel session titled “Tech for Good: Past Lessons; Future Choices.”

The panel will be chaired by our own Chair of Trustees Gareth Marlow, and includes Martin Rigby (ET Capital), Nadirah Hussain (our Broken Tech Broken Earth project co-ordinator) and more soon to be announced. This discussion will examine how lessons from past technological innovation can help shape more responsible, sustainable and ethical decision-making for the future.

The panel is free to attend but advanced booking is required!

Please follow the link here to reserve a ticket for the Panel Discussion Tech for Good: Past Lessons; Future Choices

Date: Wednesday 17th June 2026

Location: St John's Innovation Centre, Cambridge, U.K

The day will run as follows:

10:30–11:00 – Refreshments and The Centre for Computing History interactive exhibition

11:00–12:00 – Tech for Good: Past Lessons; Future Choices, a panel exploring how historical insight can inform more responsible innovation today

Throughout the day – Cambridge Online Tech Amnesty, encouraging visitors to donate unwanted devices for reuse or recycling, plus CCH interactive exhibition

12:00–13:00 – Cambridge Roots, US Shoots, a Frazier & Deeter panel offering practical insights into US expansion and fundraising

14:00–15:00 – Triple Chasm workshop led by Uday Phadke, focusing on bridging the gap between innovation and commercial success

SJIC’s partnership with the Centre for Computing History brings a historical perspective to the day’s focus on the ethics of modern innovation. Alongside retro gaming and selected objects from CCH’s Broken Tech: Broken Earth project, CCH will present a curated display of rare Cambridge-developed prototypes and experimental technologies. These objects offer visitors a unique insight into the Cambridge Phenomenon of the 1980s - when SJIC was founded - and the culture of experimentation that underpinned it.

Highlights include:

Hermann Hauser’s ‘Active Book’ board
Raspberry Pi early prototype
Acorn RISC PC 600 prototype
Items from the Chris Wilding Sinclair Collection, including a Microdrive Development Model and other experimental designs
NewBrain demonstration computer with clear case
Pre-production ICL One Per Desk
Xbox 360 prototype

Grundy NewBrain Demo model - one of six produced.