• Source: Grid Compass

The Grid Compass is a family of laptop computers introduced in 1982 by the Grid Systems Corporation. The design for the Compass was rendered by Bill Moggridge. Owing to its clamshell design—the first in a portable computer—some historians credit the original Compass as the first ever laptop.
This original model of Compass lacked an internal battery compartment, requiring AC power from the wall. Grid sold the succeeding model, the Compass II, in 1984 with an optional external battery unit.: 91  Grid replaced the Compass with the GridCase line in 1985.




History


Development of the Compass began in 1979, and the main buyer was the U.S. government. NASA used it on the Space Shuttle during the early 1980s, as it was powerful, lightweight, and compact. The military Special Forces also purchased the machine, as it could be used by paratroopers in combat.
Along with the Gavilan SC and Sharp PC-5000 released the following year, the GRiD Compass established much of the basic design of subsequent laptop computers, although the laptop concept itself owed much to the Dynabook project developed at Xerox PARC from the late 1960s. GRiD Systems Corporation subsequently earned significant returns on its patent rights as its innovations became commonplace.




= Competitors

=
The portable Osborne 1 computer sold at around the same time as the GRiD, was more affordable and more popular, and ran the popular CP/M operating system. But, unlike the Compass, the Osborne was not a laptop and lacked the Compass's refinement and small size.




Models


The Compass ran its own operating system, GRiD-OS. Its specialized software and high price (US$8,000–$10,000) meant that it was limited to specialized applications.




= Compass

=
The initial model, the 1101, was introduced in April 1982; The 1100 model designation were never released commercially, but featured in some pre-release marketing material. The computer was designed by British industrial designer Bill Moggridge.



Design

The design used a clamshell case (where the screen folds flat to the rest of the computer when closed), which was made from a magnesium alloy. The computer featured an Intel 8086 processor, a 320 × 240-pixel electroluminescent display, 340-kilobyte magnetic bubble memory, and a 1200 bit/s modem. Devices such as hard drives and floppy drives could be connected via the IEEE-488 I/O (also known as GPIB or General Purpose Interface Bus). This port made it possible to connect multiple devices to the addressable device bus. It weighed 5 kg (11 lb). The power input is ~110/220 V AC, 47–66 Hz, 75 W.




= Compass II

=

The Compass II was released in 1984; known as 1121, 1129, 1131 and 1139 models.




References






External links



Clare, GRiDs in Space, Net magic, archived from the original on 2008-06-25
GRiD Compass, old-computers.com
Hrothgar, "GRiD Compass", Cool Old Junk, Total
InfoWorld Aug 2, 1982
InfoWorld Nov 8, 1982
Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. "GRiD Compass". Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
GRiD Compass 1100, 360 degree model, Vintage Laptop Museum, 5 April 2017
Video about GRiD Compass
Video about the SPOC program that was used on the NASA Shuttle
• Source: Grid compass

A grid compass known as well as grid steering compass, is a navigating instrument. It is a design of magnetic compass that facilitates steering a steady course without the risk of parallax error.
The grid compass is the simplest steering compass from the pilot's or helmsman's point of view, because he doesn't need to watch the number (or the division mark) of the wanted course. He has only to steer the craft so that the N/S compass needle lies parallel between the lines of the overlay disc. The principle is similar to the compass-controlled autopilot. Although sophisticated electronics have taken over for commercial navigation, light aircraft, gliders and yachtsmen still use the grid compass because of its simplicity and ease of use.




Description



The compass card is in the form of a bold parallel sided arrow which indicates magnetic north. Some models have an east/west cross bar as well. Overlaying this but in the same gimbal or suspension is a transparent plate which can be rotated around the same axis as the compass card but has sufficient friction (or a mechanical clamp) to stay fixed relative to the gimbal system once set to a course. Across this disk are engraved a series of parallel lines. The outer edge of this disk is marked in clockwise in degrees, the radial line meeting 0º being parallel to the engraved lines, so that a course can be laid for any bearing from 0º to 359º. By keeping the arrow on the card and the lines on the overlay parallel, the pilot or helmsman can keep the course set. The frequency of the degree markings depend upon the size of the compass.
To set a course the rotating ring is (unlocked and) turned so that the heading in degrees on the ring alines with the centre line of the craft. The craft comes on to the required course when the arrow on the compass card is parallel with the lines on the ring.
The grid steering compasses (Type P8 to Type P11) were fitted in World War II Spitfire aeroplanes, replacing the old P4 series of instruments. They were used for course setting and reading, and as a check compass on aircraft fitted with a remote indicating compass.




See also


Astrocompass
Compass
Silva Compass
Solar compass
Marine sandglass
Bearing compass




References






Bibliography


Aircraft Instruments
Mike Harris (1 January 2010). The Compass Book: Maintain, Repair and Adjust Your Own Compass. Paradise Cay Publications. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-0-939837-27-4.




External links


A Compass for ‘Sandpiper’
"A Job Thought Impossible" Archived 2020-08-01 at the Wayback Machine, the story of Chrysler Corporation's mass-production of previously hand-made compasses for World War II naval requirements.

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Pesawat Ulang Alik
• Daftar perusahaan di Britania
• Reckitt Benckiser
• Shell (perusahaan)
• Unilever
• Standard Chartered
• Vodafone
• Pearson plc
• Haleon
• GSK plc
• Grid Compass
• Grid compass
• Magnetic declination
• Bearing (navigation)
• Portable computer
• Grid Systems
• History of laptops
• Compass (disambiguation)
• GridCase
• Space Shuttle