• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Saturday, July 26, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Enjoy a spectacular afternoon tea of indulgent chocolate and sparkles

    Reading footbridge to close for footbridge in central Reading

    Welsh company fined nearly £3,000 for illegal adverts in Reading

    Readipop announces two-week take-over festival at The Oracle

    Friends of the Elderly opens new care home in Calcot

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Rabbits Vehicle Hire

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Rabbits Vehicle Hire

    Daisy’s Dream named as University of Reading’s Charity of the Year for 2025/26

    Uni of Reading: Artists to join archaeologists at 1,200-year-old monastery

    Reading students commended in national poetry competition

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Reading FC confirm new signing as midfielder joins on permanent deal

    Former Reading FC loanee joins rivals

    Reading FC sign German attacker on permanent deal

    Reading and Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon set for Q&A at Purple Turtle

    Ex-Reading star Ejaria on trial with former Royals manager

    League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    Reading FC opinion: Where are the goals coming from this season?

    Reading FC midfielder Knibbs linked with Championship move

    Reading FC forward Ehibhatiomhan features in friendly despite unresolved future

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Museum launching exhibition exploring digital history of Reading

Jake Clothier by Jake Clothier
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 7:20 am
in Featured, Reading
A A
Reading Museum is set to host an exhibition marking six decades of digital development in Reading from Tuesday, March 18.

Reading Museum is set to host an exhibition marking six decades of digital development in Reading from Tuesday, March 18.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

AN EXHIBITION marking six decades of digital development in Reading is set to open next week.

Reading Museum is set to host the event which will examine the history of digital industries in the town.

In 1964, burgeoning American computer company Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) opened its first office in Castle Street, starting with just two employees.

It grew to employ more than 2,000 people, and played a key part in establishing Reading as a major contributor to tech transformation and digital economy in the UK.

Since the arrival of the DEC in 1964, Reading has evolved into one of the largest tech clusters in the UK, with more than 11K ICT businesses calling the greater Reading area home.

DEC has been recognised as one of the leaders in computing equipment development and manufacture, and by 1988 it had been named the second largest computer company in the world.

Related posts

Enjoy a spectacular afternoon tea of indulgent chocolate and sparkles

Reading footbridge to close for footbridge in central Reading

Welsh company fined nearly £3,000 for illegal adverts in Reading

Readipop announces two-week take-over festival at The Oracle

DEC was acquired by Compaq in 1998 in what was at that time the largest merger in the history of the computer industry.

Now, funded by a grant of £87,145 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and hosted in partnership with National Museum of Computing, Reading Museum’s ‘DIGITAL Revolution’ exhibition traces the birth of the town’s famous information and communication technology industry.

It includes the DEC talk voice synthesizer famously used by Stephen Hawking whose account was with Reading DEC.

To mark the launch of the exhibition on Monday, March 17, representatives from Reading’s technology sector and Councillors will be joined by special guest 90-year-old John Leng, who was founder of DEC in Reading in 1964.

Mr Leng is travellingfrom the USA to attend the formal opening of the exhibition by Sir John Madejski in the Sir John Madejski Gallery.

The exhibition will feature a collection of rare and vintage computing equipment on loan exclusively to Reading Museum from Bletchley Park, a video wall installation featuring reflections on the growth of Reading’s ICT industry, collections of familiar computing equipment such as the ZX Spectrum, and digital artwork created by emerging Reading fine artist Jessica Brauner.

Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture, said: “This exhibition is exceptional, honouring the legacy of DEC and ensuring its impact on Reading’s history is preserved for future generations.

“We’re very pleased DEC UK founder John Leng can join us for the opening too–I’d encourage residents to come along to the Reading DIGITAL Revolution exhibition over the next few months.

“The exhibition shares the town’s untold hi-tech history and explores ideas about how an unfolding digital revolution is influencing Reading’s present and future.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support this project, which thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, will mean that more people will be able to get involved with, protect, and learn about the exciting heritage right on their doorstep.

“Heritage has a huge role to play in instilling pride in communities and boosting local economies, and this project is a fantastic example of achieving those aims.”

The Reading DIGITAL Revolution exhibition opens to the public Tuesday, March 18 and runs until Christmas Eve.

More information about the exhibition and museum opening times is available via: readingmuseum.org.uk

The museum also welcomes donations to support its work– more information is available via: reading-museum-shop.myshopify.com

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

Reading FC and Wrexham AFC fans to stage joint protest against club’s owners

Next Post

Caversham restaurant reopens with top marks following closure for safety reasons last year

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • 47-year-old woman arrested after two pedestrians die in road traffic collision in Caversham

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC striker Andy Carroll joins new club in England after leaving France

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Masked men armed with weapons rob store in Reading

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC forward given ultimatum over future at the club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.