National Institute of the Republic of Serbia
ὅδε οἶκος, ὦ ἑταῖρε, μνημεῖον ἐστιν ζωῶν τῶν σοφῶν ἀνδρῶν, καὶ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K, introduced on April 23, 1982 by the British company Sinclair Research, was the result of the vision of Sir Clive Sinclair, an innovator and entrepreneur who aimed to make computers accessible to every household. This model became one of the most recognizable and influential home computers in Europe, marking an era when computers first entered schools, living rooms, and children's bedrooms around the world. With 48 kilobytes of RAM and 16 KB of ROM containing the built-in Sinclair BASIC programming language, the ZX Spectrum allowed users to create and run software independently. Powered by a Zilog Z80A processor running at 3.5 MHz, and featuring 256×192 pixel resolution with support for eight colors, it offered surprisingly capable multimedia performance for its time. Its compact plastic case with a distinctive rubber keyboard, RF modulator for TV output, and cassette-based data loading system made entry into the world of digital technology affordable and straightforward, without the need for expensive peripherals. The ZX Spectrum 48K quickly became the core of the emerging British software scene—thousands of video games and educational programs were developed across Europe, many authored by independent developers and even teenagers. The computer not only fostered digital literacy, but also inspired a new generation of programmers, designers, and tech entrepreneurs.
Creator: Sinclair Research Ltd., 1982
Source: Gift of Vanja Korać
Text prepared by Vanja Korać
Photo by Dragan Aćimović
