Vice-Chancellor: Sir Goronwy Daniel

Founding Head of Department appointed: Prof Glyn Emery

Ifan Moelwyn Hughes appointed as first Head of the Computer Unit.

The first lecturers were appointed: Horst Holstein and Brian Rudling.

IBM introduce the 8 inch floppy disk. The 5.25 inch disk came in 1976 and the 3.5 inch version in 1982.

The first email message was sent between two computers on the ARPANET.

First students graduate, 11 Joint Honours degrees

The Department's first computer was installed in August, a DEC PDP-11/40.

Single Honours degree in CS started in October

School of Maths Unit Scheme introduced

Industrial year scheme introduced

The Centre for Alternative Technology opened its doors. The centre, just north of Machynlleth, was a vanguard in promoting green technology. CAT is still running and worth a visit.

IBM introduced the Winchester disk with swinging arm actuator. Invented at IBM's UK Hursley Labs, this design was used in over 10 billion units.

First Single Honours graduate

The MSc gains accreditation from the BCS with full exemption from their exams.

First robot and vision system installed (donation from industry)

The Commodore PET personal computer is launched.

Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) inroduce the VAX-11/780. The 11 indicates that 32 bit Vax are backward compatible with the very successful 16-bit PDP-11 series.

New Vice-Chancellor: Gareth Owen

Pascal became the department's main teaching language.

MEC course (MicroElectronics and Computing) started as a joint degree with the Physics department. The Microprocessor Development Laboratory (MDL) is established. Students worked in the MDL to carry out electronic coursework and major hardware-based projects, such as a chess playing robot.

British Rail consider an InterCity service on the Cambrian line, (it didn't happen!)

The Science Research Council (SRC) becomes the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC)

SRC research grants for 1975-80 show Aberystwyth high for pure science. With engineering subjects removed for comparison: Aberystwyth £3.2m, Bangor £1.3m, Swansea £2.2m, Cardiff £2.3m. Many medium sized UK universities were below this level.

The BBC Microcomputer was launched. Built by Acorn Computers Limited, the BBC Micro could be found in around 80% of British schools.

The IBM Personal Computer started the PC industry. It became one of the most popular computer design standards in the world.

The UGC impose a reduction of 3.5% in university recurrent grant (in real terms 5% to 6%)

Professor Lance Thomas is appointed as the new head of Physics

UGC visitation in May

First department research grant - SERC announced £188k robot project with collaborators BRSL (British Robotic Systems Ltd)

University students at record high, 3202 (including 515 postgrads)

Sun Microsystems was founded on February 24, 1982. Sun made significant contributions to the development of computing including its SPARC processors that ran RISC code, the use of Unix, thin-client computing, virtual computing, and JAVA. The department bought many Sun systems for research and teaching in the 1980s.

The department's PDP-11 is replaced by a Vax 11/750 system.

Japan start their Real World Computing initiative. This stimulates much AI activity in the West.

Plans for 1981-84 show staff losses, greatest in arts, maths, and physics (most of these were achieved by February 1983)

The Robotics Research Group is established.

A 13 week Summer School was run for the Marconi company. Organised by Mike Tedd, Frank Bott, and Fred Long (also again in 1994?).

A letter from the Registrar, Tom Owen, is sent to the Chairman of the School of Maths recommending that the departments of Computer Science and Statistics be merged. The reason (hinted at) being that when Professor Emery retires both departments would have vacant headships and one "big" department would be advantageous (and save money with one head).

A reply letter is sent to the Registrar stating strongly that Computer Science wishes to remain independent. Signed by eight staff members, the letter states "morale is high and we feel committed to a vigorous future" and if Computer Science has to merge it should be within a merger of the whole School of Mathematics.

The Software Engineering research group is established.