2024 marks 60 years since Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) opened its first UK office in Reading and transformed our region – and we’re asking your help to celebrate the story!
From just two members of staff above a furniture store on Castle Street, by the 1980s DEC was employing more than 2,000 workers in our town.
They helped turn DEC into the world’s second largest computer company and transformed the Reading region into the international technology hub we know today.
DEC is gone but its legacy thrives - something Reading Museum, The National Museum of Computing (TNMoC), the DEXODUS employees and DECUS (UK) customer groups are marking with a major new initiative, including exhibitions and school programmes, called Reading’s Digital Revolution.
Survey of ex-DEC staff and customers.
We have recently carried out a survey of ex DEC employees and customers to discover more about the life and times of the company where Reading's Digital Revolution began!
There was a tremendous response, with over 500 individuals taking part. We are very grateful to everyone for contributing and we are now busy reviewing all the information to help us develop forthcoming productions. More news soon!
If you would like to know more about the survey please make contact using the Museum's enquiry form: https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/collections-enquiry
About our Partners
The project has received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £87,000 and generous donations from DECUS and local charity RGSpaces. This, together with your input, will enable Reading Museum and TNMoC to tell the DEC story through a series of exciting and authentic exhibitions, education programs and community outreach activities.
We also look forward to developing the project with help from Reading University's Institute of Education, New Directions College, Blended Past and Digit (All).
Watch this Space!
As the project develops, we will update this webpage with more news and opportunities to get involved.
