Purpose-Built Educational Computers in the 1980s: The Australian Experience - History of Computing: Learning from the Past - page 104

funds be provided to support the purchase by schools of only BBC Acorn, Microbee 64,
and Apple //e computers. This recommendation was later softened so that these funds
could be used to purchase a computer on the 'recommended list' drawn up by any given
state [9]. In the longer term however the need was seen for Australia to develop an edu-
cational computer system of its own.
“To meet the long term requirements of schools computing activities in
Australia, it is considered essential to embark on a national research
and development project that will ensure that appropriate computer
systems are available. This ... will involve:
• the research and preparation of a set of Educational User Require-

ments. This is a statement of agreed educational needs to be met by
the computer systems;

• the development of a set of Educational Technical Requirements

based on the Educational User Requirements. This is a statement of
the function, main features and performance required by the user
for a system which can reasonably be expected to be available to
satisfy the requirements in the planned time period;

• a System Concept Study which involves research and analysis of all

practical alternatives to satisfy the Educational Technical Require-
ments. It includes consideration of development and production op-
tions and use of existing items either as they are or in modified
form;

• if no existing items satisfy the Educational Technical Requirements,

then a development proposal leading to the design and development
of appropriate systems is required. [10 : 44]

The process by which this might be achieved is described in Appendix E of this report
[10 :69-72].
“The National Advisory Committee on Computers in Schools has
recommended that the research, design and development process
described below be adopted. This process would involve:
• Commonwealth Schools Commission co-ordination and funding of the

research and development of educational requirement documenta-
tion and;

• Department of Science and Technology co-ordination and funding of

computer equipment research, design and development.
•

Elements of the process are:
(a) Commonwealth Schools Commission leadership in the research of
requirement document namely:
(1) An Educational User Requirement; and
(2) An Educational Technical Requirement.
(b) Department of Science and Technology leadership in equipment
research, design and development through:
(1) A Systems Concept Study; and
(2) An Australian Design Specification including the design and
manufacture of pilot and prototype systems if necessary.