MOSI            Baby Volunteers      Grade Definitions                                                

 

 

Volunteers who demonstrate SSEM ( Baby) to the public will be required to achieve one of four technical grades in addition to the usual MOSI health and safety, CRB induction procedures.

Training in each level will be given by a mentor who has the same or higher level of volunteer grade to that being sought.

Sign off by a mentor would be via e mail to the curator (Cat) so that MOSI have a

record of what a volunteer has achieved and is authorised to carry out. 

 

Level 1. Static Demonstrator.no power on Baby

 

Required to be able to:

 

  1. Give the face to face talks to tell the success story of the Williams/Kilburn achievements and Manchester’s role in the development of the computer.
  2. To describe the physical aspects of Baby and show artefacts such as a crt tube,and later storage exhibits such as the Pegasus delay line board and core store components.

     3     To relate the connection between Alan Turing and Bletchley work and his subsequent involvement in using and programming Baby.

     4     To relate the timing of the first running of Baby to that of other well known early computers such as Eniac, and Edsac.

     5     To operate and run the PC emulation of Baby to demonstrate what can 

            actually be seen when programs run on Baby, and discuss how operation and

            program load was achieved using the actual control panel of Baby.

6          To describe the various sections of the Baby and discuss the re-build project 

        and the MOSI 50 and 60 events.

      7    To maintain the log entries covering any visitor issues or queries

 

Training Support

 

  • The George Roylance video covers the general description. If MOSI can produce this on a DVD it is the ideal base document to be used. Also if this can be produced it can be  added to the Volunteers Web site.
  • Volunteers WEB page-  Contains ALL support documentation issued to date.
  • WEB Pages of the Digital 50/60 event. 
  • One to One mentor assistance and guidance.

 

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Level 2. Operating Demonstrator.power on via standard controls

 

Required to be able to:

 

 

1.        Have the capability to work at Level1 demonstrating to the public.

2.        Carry out correct power-up and power-down sequences using the appropriate switches.

3.        Operate the program load sequence from load PC

4.        Initiate Baby operation from the control panel.

5.        Be Aware of  the areas of the machine that contain high voltages,

       but would have no requirement to approach or touch these.

6.        Note and record symptoms in the log, should Baby fail to operate, or subsequently fail to run. and then to power down..

7          Power down in the event of item 6, and continue at level1 demonstration.

8          Mentor volunteers seeking level 1 approval.

 

Training Support

 

 

·         One to One mentor demonstrations of procedures necessary.

·         Familiarity with Baby overview using WEB archive sections

·         Familiarity with range of demo/ test programs available from load PC.

·         Familiarity with the control switches and monitor display keys

 

 

 

 

Level 3     Operate and Test Technician/Demonstrator

 

Required to be able to:

 

 

1.      Have the capability to work at Levels 1@2. demonstrating to the public

2.      Work through the test sequences when a fault condition exists.

3.      Identify what Program/Test/ or function is failing.

4.      Ensure, whilst doing level 3 work because of a fault condition, to break off analysis from time to time and chat to interested visitors.

5.      Set  manual instruction tests from the main control panel

6.      Switch in and out the crt and semiconductor stores.

7.      Swap over the load pc’s.

8.      Deliver an analysis of what is breaking and how.

9.      Produce a corresponding entry  in the log book, but without any remedial action involving component or valve  swapping.

10.  Mentor volunteers seeking level 1 or 2 approvals.

 

 Training Support

 

           

·         One to One Mentor demonstrations of procedures and techniques.

·         Familiarity with the Architecture and Panel functions as described in WEB archives.

·         Mentor demo how to set up test loops using the PC simulator to load  and run these.


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Level 4    Support Technician/Demonstrator

 

 

Required to be able to:

 

 

  1. Have the capability to work at Levels 1, 2 and 3. demonstrating to the public
  2. Have demonstrated a proven professional  level of ability in working with high 

      voltage valve equipment – Alternatively :

      Have completed three months assisting a leve l4 volunteer on baby fault

      finding or reconfiguring exercises.

  1. Have satisfied a level 4 volunteer of an ability to actually repair faults that are detected, in a safe and logical manner.
  2. Be able to defer, if necessary, to members of the Build- team experts such as Chris Burton or George Roylance via email or phone.
  3. Mentor volunteers seeking level 1,2 or 3 approvals

 

 

 

Training Support

 

 

·         Expected to have studied in depth the Archive circuits, descriptions.

·         Expected to have read WEB based write ups of Digital 50/60

·         Expected to have read descriptions of Baby rebuild on CCS website

·         Close working with another Level 4 Mentor(s) for at least 3 months