SEGA AI Computer
Released in 1986, the SEGA AI Computer is a simple personal computer-like device marketed towards children and educational institutes. Predominantly sold to Japanese schools, the system received software until 1989. Software was distributed on My Cards, much like the SG-1000 and Master System, but also received software on cassette. The computer has a cartridge slot for My Card software and a built-in tape drive for the cassette software. The main unit features a large membrane interface that can be used as a touch-pad for drawing software, but it can also be used with a variety overlays that can be placed on top of it to create the control scheme for different software. These overlays come with the software itself. An external keyboard can also be plugged into the computer for a more traditional typing setup. The SEGA AI Computer also comes with a speech synthesis module that needs to be plugged into the side of the machine. There is also a microphone port. Being a Japan-exclusive piece of SEGA hardware, the SEGA AI Computer was largely forgotten until January 2024 when the team at SMS Power! secured a system and successfully emulated it with the MAME architecture.
Specifications
Year: 1986
CPU: 16-bit NEC V20 at 5 Mhz
ROM: 512 KB total (as actually found in system)
ROM continued: 2×64 KB system ROM (“Operating System, Prolog”)
ROM continued: 1×128 KB character ROM
ROM continued: 2×128 KB speech ROM
RAM: 128 KB
Software on Sega My Cards (128 KB to 256 KB)
Software on Audio Cassettes
Video: Yamaha V9938 (Resolution 256×212) with 64 KB VRAM
Sound: SN76489 PSG
Inputs: Touch surface with overlays, 8-directions pad + 3 buttons
Inputs: Microphone input
Inputs/Outputs: a RS232 Centronics port
Cassette Drive : 9600bps
Optional Keyboard peripheral.
Optional Sound Box peripheral with a YM2151 FM chip
Photo credits to SMS Power!
