Unisys Corp has entered the computers-for-schools market by acquiring worldwide rights to an 80186-based machine and companion Unix-like software that was conceived by the Ontario Ministry of Education, Canada. The machine, called the Icon, runs the QNX Unixalike from Quantum Software Systems Ltd – QNX is marketed in the UK by Genus Ltd of Edinburgh – and is designed to be used with a server, up to 32 of the Icon micros being supported by the server. Key features of QNX include a Smalltalk-like user interface, and communications built into the kernel. The Icon machine was originally designed and manufactured by Cemcorp of Toronto and marketed by Burroughs Corp of Canada, but now that Unisys has world-wide marketing rights for the machine from Cemcorp’s parent, Meridian Technologies Inc, it is getting the machine made by Lucky-Goldstar Group in Seoul, South Korea. Unisys sells the Icon Series workstation at $1,895 with 1Mb 80186 processor; Microtel of Toronto makes a 70Mb file server for it which sells for $8,990. Educational applications for the Icon Series have been developed by Learning Connections, a Unisys company also based in Toronto. An emulator program to support MS-DOS applications is available as an option under QNX, says Computer Systems News.
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