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TIMELINE — A Journey Through Computing History

Northern Ireland’s best hands-on retro computing exhibition.
Play the Past.  Shape the Future.

Libraries and museums Conferences and events Schools and community groups
Enquire See it live at NIDC, 21 Nov
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Transmission 01 / Briefing

Experience the technology that changed everything.

TIMELINE brings computing history to life. Get hands-on with original computers and consoles, play classic games, try programming and discover the technology that changed how we live, work and play.

Whether you’re revisiting your first computer or discovering something completely new, there’s plenty to explore.

We bring the exhibition to you, all you need to do is provide a location and power! With over 50 machines in our collection, we can tailor an engaging retro computing exhibition to suit your venue.

Visitors playing Sonic on a Sega Mega Drive together while others try other machines around the room
A busy exhibition room with visitors at tables full of original computers and a Sega Mega Drive poster on the back wall
Two visitors playing a classic game on a Commodore 64 with a joystick, surrounded by information posters
A smiling visitor holding up a printout of pixel art she made on an Amiga 500 using Deluxe Paint
A smiling visitor playing on a Commodore Amiga 500 with a trackball joystick
A Pikachu picture drawn in Deluxe Paint on an Amiga with a Philips monitor
A Deluxe Paint drawing of a person sitting at a computer desk, shown on a CRT monitor
A smiling visitor playing Sonic on a Sega Mega Drive, with the machine's information card beside her
A visitor in a cap playing a Sega Mega Drive on a small CRT, with the pad in hand
A ZX Spectrum and a Commodore 64 set up on a desk beneath their poster displays, with joysticks, manuals and software
Three TIMELINE operators in branded T-shirts in front of the exhibition welcome poster
A TIMELINE operator holding up a Timeline Operator T-shirt in front of Amiga and Didaktik M posters
An Apple II running a Breakout-style game on its monitor, with its information card beside it
A visitor playing an Apple II with a joystick, with the machine and its information card beside him
A visitor with a joystick in hand playing on an Apple II beside its information card
A visitor in a leather jacket typing on a vintage computer beneath BBC Micro and VIC-20 posters
Hands typing on a BBC Micro keyboard, with its green-screen monitor showing a connections diagram
Two visitors smiling at the camera beside a BBC Micro running a game on its monitor
A long row of original 1980s computers on a library table, with information posters on the wall
A visitor in a red hoodie playing Sonic on a Sega Mega Drive with a pad in hand
A visitor in a cap using an IBM PC AT with a green-screen display
The exhibition poster explaining that the computers are hands-on and here to be used
A visitor looking back at the camera while playing Super Mario Bros. 3 on a Nintendo NES
Visitors playing a Nintendo NES and other consoles at a curved library desk, with the NES information card in front
A visitor concentrating on an Atari 2600 game, with the console's information card on the table
A visitor at an IBM Personal Computer AT with a green-screen display and its information card
A young visitor and an adult playing on an Apple II together, with the TIMELINE information cards behind
Two visitors on handheld consoles at library tables, beneath Atari Lynx, Sega Game Gear and Game Boy posters
A visitor playing a Sega Mega Drive on a period CRT, with its information card beside it
A TIMELINE operator holding up a BBC Micro case while repairing machines on the exhibition table
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TIMELINE at Carrickfergus Library.
Audience / Made for you

Who it's for

Schools

STEM and computing history, linked to the curriculum. Pupils get hands on with the machines that started it all.

Libraries and communities

A walk-up exhibition for every age, from the nostalgic to the curious.

Events and workplaces

Retro computing for conferences, team days and receptions. A different kind of break-out space.

Playback / From the archive

See it in action

A retro experience like no other. Take a look at some of the footage from our recent events.

Joystick-waggling on the Commodore 64
Hands-on with the BBC Micro
Bubble Bobble on the IBM PC
Walk-through: the exhibition room
Playing together on the Amiga
Carrickfergus Library highlights
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470
Visitors at our Carrickfergus Library pilot. Next stop: NIDC 2026, ICC Belfast.
“Fantastic range of brilliant machines! Loved seeing these computers in person for the first time and getting to use them as they were meant to be used.”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“Who knew no internet would be so much fun!”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“A wonderful bonding experience—I loved showing my daughter the games I grew up playing.”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“Loved exploring all of the retro computers and learning more about their origins, history, and original costs.”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“It was so fun figuring out how to navigate Windows 3.1 with no mouse and trying out classic programs like Stunt Copter 2!”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“A true trip down memory lane! It was nostalgic seeing all the old computers I had as a kid still operating and getting to play on them again.”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“An unbelievable experience! The setup and layout were great, and the staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. Amazing exhibit and presentation.”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“It’s truly unbelievable to see how much technology has changed. Seeing the evolution of the personal computer alongside video games’ humble beginnings was incredible.”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“Great collection in all aspects! Seeing particularly rare and intriguing hardware like the ACT Sirius 1 and Didaktik was a highlight.”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
“Very amazing experience—this should happen more often!”
Visitor, Carrickfergus Library
Transmission 02 / Open a channel

Bring TIMELINE to you!

Interested in bringing TIMELINE to your venue or event? Get in touch using the form below!

With over 50 original computers and consoles, we can tailor an exhibition to suit almost any space.

We handle delivery, setup and collection. Each machine comes with information cards and guided activities, giving visitors a fun, hands-on retro experience they can enjoy at their own pace.