Lesson plan

Torch Computers

Torch Computers Ltd was a computer hardware company with origins in a 1982 joint venture between Acorn Computers and Climar Group that led to the development of the Communicator or C-series computer, a system based on the BBC Micro with a Z80 second processor and integral modem, intended as a viewdata terminal. Establishing itself in Great Shelford, near Cambridge, UK, the company became well known for its computer peripherals for the VIC-20 and BBC Micro. Torch produced an expansion unit originally developed by Arfon Microelectronics for the VIC-20, having acquired Arfon, and several second processor units for the BBC Micro, many with integrated floppy disk or hard disk drives.

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Article summary

Torch Computers Ltd was a computer hardware company with origins in a 1982 joint venture between Acorn Computers and Climar Group that led to the development of the Communicator or C-series computer, a system based on the BBC Micro with a Z80 second processor and integral modem, intended as a viewdata terminal. Establishing itself in Great Shelford, near Cambridge, UK, the company became well known for its computer peripherals for the VIC-20 and BBC Micro. Torch produced an expansion unit originally developed by Arfon Microelectronics for the VIC-20, having acquired Arfon, and several second processor units for the BBC Micro, many with integrated floppy disk or hard disk drives.

Key claims

  1. date of foundation: 1980 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  2. date of foundation: 1984-06-14 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
  3. employees: 50 employees — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the date of foundation is "1980". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. The record states that the date of foundation is "1984-06-14". What evidence would count against this claim?
  4. The record states that the employees is "50 employees". What evidence would count against this claim?
  5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1374819215

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.