{"title":"Andrew Morten","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"amstrads-and-ataris-book-andrew-morten-9781398111226","title":"Amstrads and Ataris","description":"The 1980s was the era when affordable computers came to UK homes. They were known as microcomputers as their ‘brain’ was a microprocessor chip. Before then, computers were either found in the IT centres of big companies, taking up a whole room, or were large desktop machines with a price tag that put them out of reach for most people. But in February 1980, a company called Sinclair Computers launched their first home computer costing less than £100 – the ZX80. It began a very exciting time for all those with an interest in technology, and the UK home computer market was born. The first Sinclair ZX80s were soon joined by a host of competition in the early years of the 1980s as machines were released from companies such as Acorn, Dragon, Tangerine and Commodore. They all wanted a share of a market that would soon be worth millions of pounds.  This book explores the history of these companies and the entrepreneurs behind them such as Sir Clive Sinclair of Sinclair Computers and Chris Curry of Acorn Computers. The innovative machines they produced inspired a generation.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49741625262353,"sku":"NGR9781398111226","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52973850263825,"sku":"GOR014674491","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53149406069009,"sku":"GOR014780419","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1398111228.jpg?v=1764065027"},{"product_id":"pocket-calculator-story-book-andrew-morten-9781398116863","title":"The Pocket Calculator Story","description":"Before the 1970s, for anything but basic arithmetic, a pen and paper was needed, and complex calculations required a slide rule or logarithm tables. Electronic calculators were in use in the 1960s, but they were based on valve or transistor technology, and so they were both bulky and expensive machines. But with the development of the microchip on the back of the space race, the rapid process of miniaturisation began. By the early 1970s, affordable pocket calculators came to the shops and enabled everyone to have instant answers to any mathematical question. A global market worth hundreds of millions of dollars emerged and the large electronics companies in Japan and the US were joined in a battle to produce ever smaller and cheaper machines. In the UK, companies such as Sinclair also wanted to take a share of this expanding market.   Andrew Morten tells the tale of the pocket-sized revolution of the innovative pocket calculator.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49753006899473,"sku":"NGR9781398116863","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51024289104145,"sku":"NIN9781398116863","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1398116866.jpg?v=1753687866"},{"product_id":"story-of-english-banknotes-book-andrew-morten-9781398123977","title":"The Story of English Banknotes","description":"The humble banknote has been around in one form or another for over 300 years, and no one would deny that during that time they have been an indispensable part of trade, commerce and the growth of the UK economy. The Bank of England came into existence to oversee their creation and distribution and has played a critical role in steering the country through good times, bad times and the occasional economic crisis ever since. The earliest notes were little more than handwritten bills, rarely seen as they could be worth more than a year's wages. However, historical events meant that the widespread issue of smaller denominations to raise money for the Crown became a necessity. As banknotes have always attracted forgers, notes had to be frequently updated to stay ahead of the counterfeiters. From simple paper designs in the nineteenth century to modern, holographic polymer notes, Andrew Morten explores the history of the Bank of England through the many different banknotes that have been issued during its existence.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51631378399505,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51631378694417,"sku":"NGR9781398123977","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53679307391249,"sku":"GOR014998947","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1398123978.jpg?v=1750825422"},{"product_id":"digital-watch-story-book-andrew-morten-9781398120068","title":"The Digital Watch Story","description":"Today, wrist watches are part practical, part fashion and part wearable tech. This was just as true at the beginning of the 1970s, with the invention of the digital watch. Initially they were incredibly expensive, first seen on the wrists of James Bond and Elton John. But the technology soon became more affordable, and they became a cool must-have gadget. Over the coming decades, they evolved from the early red LED displays to today's smart watches and fitness trackers. Along the way there were games watches, radios and calculators-even a TV on your wrist. The book explores the history of this important cultural device.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51632625975569,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51632626204945,"sku":"NGR9781398120068","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52609398374673,"sku":"NIN9781398120068","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1398120065.jpg?v=1778148084"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-andrew-morten.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}