ZUSE Chip Microscope

One of four exhibits for the ZUSE COMPUTER MUSEUM Hoyerswerda. The exhibit explains the progressive miniaturization of computer technology. The chip is placed under a microscope with approx. 100-fold magnification, its image is transferred to a screen. The visitor can control the position of the microchip via a control panel. On the screen, information about the microchip (eg year, power, area of application) is displayed. The visitor can activate different "levels" through his interaction, displaying the various functional areas or the detailed structure of the chip. The used chip is a MOS 6502, a famous 8-bit microprocessor that was introduced in 1975 and caused a rapid decrease in pricing among the entire processor market. As such, it played a key role in introducing computers and game consoles into everybodies homes.

The MOS 6502 was for example used in the Atari 2600, Apple II, Nintendo Entertainment System, Commodore 64 as well as in the “Terminator” and Futurama's robot Bender.

Special thanks for the vector model of the MOS6502 to Greg and everybody else from http://www.visual6502.org/