Historical information
The Micro-Professor I Plus (MPF-IP) was a low cost, versatile microcomputer system featuring sophisticated software and hardware capabilities. (MPF-IP) boasted a display panel with the ability to display 20 characters using 16-segment fonts. All 64 standard ASCII characters could be displayed. The operation of the MPF-IP was controlled by an 8k monitor program which resides in the Read Only Memory (ROM). The monitor, aided by 4k Random Access Memory (RAM), enabled the user to enter a comprehensive set of single keystroke commands, making it easier for the user to use the CPU, memory and I/0 devices. This allowed the user to concentrate of microprocessor software development and application design.
The system allowed printing at 48 lines per minute, and the ability to permanently record the commands, data, programs, status and other messaged. Each character printed by the printer is in a 5 by 7 dot matrix.
Although the prime purpose of the programming was for machine language object code formed as hexadecimal numbers, the Micro-Professor has an embedded Tiny Basic interpreter for which formation of some of the alpha characters using a standard 7 segment display was ingenious.
The program memory consisted of non volatile 2 kilobytes electrically programmable ROM whilst the Random Access Memory came with 2 kilobytes of static RAM but could be upgraded to 4 kilobytes by insertion of another chip.
The entire memory space of 64 kilobytes was accessible by way of the terminals on the left hand side of the board.
Engineering and Science students from the Ballarat School of Mines and the Ballarat College of Advanced Education used a class set (as they were relatively inexpensive at approx. $100 each) during the mid to late 1980s. Student were encouraged to borrow the Micro-Professors in order to assist in learning how to use them. Only one was ever not returned on time. When pressed to return the device the student confessed that his dog had chewed the plastic case. This is still in our collection complete with bite marks!
The Micro-Professor used a Zilog Z80 microprocessor. This was the most powerful of the 8 bit microprocessors at the time. Zilog was derived from the Intel 8080 microprocessor. The Z80 had 158 instructions of which the Intel 78 instructions were a subset.
The Intel processor continued on through development in the IBM computers as 8086, 80286, 80386, 80486 and later the pentiums. Zilog lost most of its market share when it developed the 16 bit Z8000 microprocessor. Although the microprocessor was excellent, the lack of peripherals caused users to abandon Zilog products.
Physical description
A brown and gold plastic box containing a microcomputer for use in classrooms. Four manuals are titled 'Micro-Professor MPF-IP user's Manual', 'MPF-I Experiment Manual (Software/Hardware)', Micro-professor MPF-IP experiment Manual (Software/Hardware)' and Micro-Professor MPF-I Monitor Program Source Listing.
