Research
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
The History of Computing Collection is a local centre for people to investigate and learn about the origins and development of our digital world and its influence. The Collection is eclectic. This we believe makes it useful for research into a broad and diverse range of subjects. It does have a few broad themes; currently, these are:
- Computing and Wales
- Computing before computers
- The development of Computer Science of Education in computing
which are reflected in our donations, and collecting and research initiatives. However, its archives and stores are wide in scope, and new perspectives form as new ideas, questions and donations arise. If you would like to explore or contribute to our resources and services please contact us.
Education in computing
How have we learned to develop, apply and use computers and software? An obvious and naïve answer is through schools, colleges and universities. But the scale and strength of our innovations and competence suggests that it is equally through informal learning rather than formal learning: people have taught themselves in work and at home, supported by colleagues and friends. This seems to be a somewhat neglected area of historical research.
The Collection has paid some attention to the historical origins and growth of people’s computing knowledge and skills. For example, it contains some materials relating to the creation of:
- The computing services in the steel industry at Port Talbot
- The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea (DVLA).
We also seek to build an archive of computing education at Swansea.
- Education and research at Swansea University
- A brief history of computing at Aberystwyth University from 1962-69
- Early computing at Swansea College
- The creation of curricula and qualifications in computing in Wales
