Ericsson/Dava Step/One
I have the main unit, color monitor and two 8″ disk drives.
type computer
country Sweden
year 1983
os MS-DOS 1.25
cpu Intel 8088
speed 4.77 MHz
ram 128 KB
rom 16 KB
disk 2 x 8″
graphic 320×200
colors 8
sound
ports printer, screen, keyboard, disk
The Ericsson/Dava Step One — The Swedish Educational Computer
The Ericsson/Dava Step One was a Swedish educational computer produced in the 1980s as part of Sweden’s national effort to introduce computing into schools and educational institutions. Ericsson — the Swedish telecommunications giant — was involved in several computing initiatives during this period, recognising that the digital revolution would be as important to telecommunications as it was to personal computing. The Dava designation and Step One name suggest a machine positioned as an introductory computing platform, consistent with Sweden’s progressive approach to technology education.
Sweden’s Computing Education Initiative
Sweden was one of the most progressive countries in Europe in introducing computing into education during the 1980s. The Swedish government invested significantly in school computing programmes, and several Swedish companies — including Luxor (which produced the ABC80 and ABC800 computers specifically for the educational market) — developed machines designed for classroom use. The Step One fits within this tradition of purposefully designed educational computing hardware.
Ericsson’s Computing Heritage
While Ericsson is primarily known today as a telecommunications equipment manufacturer, the company had significant involvement in computing during the 1980s. Ericsson produced PC-compatible computers, workstations, and various data communications equipment, leveraging its telecommunications expertise to produce computing products for the Nordic and European markets. The company’s involvement in educational computing through the Step One reflects the broader Swedish commitment to technology literacy.
Rarity
The Ericsson/Dava Step One is a relatively obscure machine outside Scandinavia, making it a particularly interesting addition to the Computer Museum Ata collection. Its educational focus and Swedish origin give it a distinctive character among the largely British, American, and Japanese machines that dominate most retro computer collections.