Editing ICON (microcomputer) (section)

==== Design selection ====

Policy Memos 68–73 followed in early 1983, stating that none of the existing platforms had all the qualities needed to be truly universal.<ref name=m266/> The idea of a new machine quickly gained currency, with the added bonus that it would help develop a local microcomputer industry.<ref name=exclusive/> In order to make the new machine attractive, the Ministry agreed to fund up to 75% of the purchase price from their own budget. When the plan was first announced there was widespread concern among educators. Their main complaint is that the Ministry would select a standard that was not powerful enough for their needs. A secondary concern was that the time delay between announcing and introducing the computer would be lengthy, a period in which existing purchases could be funded instead.<ref name=exclusive/>

The first set of concerns were rendered moot when the specifications were introduced in March 1983 in the "Functional Requirements for Microcomputers for Educational Use in Ontario Schools—Stage I."<ref name= McLean/> The physical design required a PET-like all-in-one case, headphones output for voice and sound effects, and a [[trackball]] for mouse-like pointing support. Inside the case, the specification called for a processor and support systems to allow a [[Computer multitasking|multitasking]] [[operating system]] to be used, selecting the [[Intel 80186]] as the CPU. Color graphics were specified, at least as an option, along with monochrome and color monitors on top. Voice synthesis was built in, and the keyboard provided for accented characters. Additionally, the systems would include no local storage at all, and would instead rely on a [[computer network|networked]] [[file server]] containing a [[hard drive]].<ref name=m270>Mangan 1994, pg. 270</ref>

The specification was considerably in advance of the [[state of the art]] of the time, and when it was delivered commentators immediately reversed their earlier concerns and suggested the machine was too powerful, and would therefore be available in too small numbers.<ref name=exclusive/>