In 2005, the York University Computer Museum began a reconstruction project and online collection devoted to the NABU Network. Although the network was a technologically and culturally significant achievement, YUCoM NABU project was the only attempt at its reconstruction, analysis and full documentation.
The first phase of the project was the collection of NABU hardware used by subscribers (NABU PCs, Adoptors, peripherals) and a NABU 1100 workstation used by NABU developers. Consultations with former NABU employees were instrumental in gathering technical and historical information about the network. The collecting efforts also resulted in acquiring several issues of NABU newsletters, magazines, and other promotional material. Unfortunately, at that stages, neither the original NABU system nor applications software were located. The collected material proved to be sufficient to reconstruct the communication protocol adopted for the network which, in turn allowed the re-development of the NABU DOS and of the Main Menu software.
Because of the lack of any applications software, some rudimentary math games were developed. Furthermore, the Heli-Tank game offered by the Japanese ASCII Corporation for its MSX home computer was disassembled and adopted to the reconstructed network. In fact, this game was originally published by NABU under the title Mania and, later, adapted for MSX.
In 2009, the reconstructed NABU Network was ready. It consisted of a NABU PC interfaced with a modern desktop computer which simulated both the head-end computer and the adaptor hardware. It was named York University NABU Network (or YUNN).
YUNN Main Menu’s category selection page modeled after the original 1983 design:
YUNN selection of an application program using SHORTCUT feature of the menu:
YUNN’s Main Menu program had all the functionality of the original NABU Main Menu software with the exception of joystick interface which was not implemented. The screen shots in figure 4 show sample pages displayed during the applications software selection process. The first screen shot captures the main categories of application programs planned for the final version of YUNN while the second shot depicts the selection of YUNN ATTACK game via SHORTCUT facility of the menu program. The design of YUNN’s logo followed the original NABU logo’s layout.
YUNN unveiled:
YUNN was officially unveiled and demonstrated during the NABU Network at York University Computer Museum event that took place at York University on April 24, 2009 . The event was opened by John Kelly—the founder of NABU Manufacturing—who talked about the genesis of the NABU Network and the economic and technological climate of its development and deployment.
John Kelly’s presentation was followed by a lecture given by Z. Stachniak and W. Kindree on the NABU Network reconstruction project at YUCoM, and by the demonstration of YUNN.
Mark Sutcliff wrote about the NABU event at York in his NABU Network an idea well ahead of its time article published by Ottawa Citizen on April 25, 2009.
YUNN Goes to Ottawa:
On November 21, 2009, YUCoM’s version of the NABU Network was demonstrated during a special NABU Network event organized by the Canada Science and Technology Museum (CSTM). John Kelly’s opening address was followed by the NABU Network Reconstruction Project at York University lecture, by YUNN’s presentation, and by formal and informal discussions. It was particularly rewarding to see so many former NABU employees and NABU Network users participating in the event.
The Completion of YUNN Project:
As a result of the NABU events at York University and the Canada Science and Technology Museum, YUCoM received several significant donations of NABU artifacts. In October 2009, the museum obtained a collection of original NABU software created for the NABU development system. This collection included the original NABU DOS and Main Menu programs as well as over 100 applications and utility programs which were available to NABU subscribers in 1984 and 85. After some adjustments to YUNN’s communication software and the creation of content feed, YUNN was able to provide almost complete programming that was offered to NABU subscribers in late 1984 as listed in The NABU Network magazine, November-December, 1984. In early 2010, the NABU Network reconstruction project has been completed. Since then, YUNN has been available for research and demonstrations at YUCoM.
NEM — The NABU Network Emulator:
The development of the NABU Network’s software emulator started in Summer 2010. The main motivation for this work has been the historical significance of the NABU Network but limited portability of YUNN. The donation of the original NABU system and applications software made by a former NABU employee Bob McNally and the technical support and expertise offered by another NABU employee Leo Binkowski has made the new project feasible. The emulator will be available for desktop as well as mobile platforms. Currently, the emulator is undergoing extensive testing. A small set of the emulator’s screenshots is presented below.
Source: York University Computer Museum