Major Milestones
The Driving Force for Taiwan’s Computer Industries
Known as the “kingdom of personal computers (PC),” Taiwan manufactured a lineup of top-notch products including gaming computers, industrial computers, laptop, and laptop metal casings and battery modules. During the 1980s, as PC advanced, ITRI collaborated with local companies to develop Taiwan’s first IBM PC/XT-compatible PC, the PC-100, with its own ERSO BIOS software. Such success paved the way for the industry to export computers. In 1990, ITRI joined hands with 46 companies to establish the Taiwan Notebook Consortium that aimed to set industry standards and division of labor, cementing Taiwan’s reputation as the kingdom of PC.
Meanwhile, to enable computers to process information in Chinese, ITRI began to develop Chinese character recognition technology in 1983. In 1989, ITRI unveiled the Smart Online Handwritten Chinese Recognition System, which allowed users to communicate with the computer in Chinese using an e-pen with ease. In 1995, ITRI innovated a Chinese recognition system that enabled computers to read handwritten Chinese with a recognition rate as high as 94-96%. This system could be applied in taxation, form processing, and credit card application procedures. It was also used in libraries and had made major breakthroughs in digitizing the collections in National Central Library in Taiwan.
ITRI developed the No. 2 Chinese-Language Computer and applied it to the Telecommunications Training Institute under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to display and carry out data compilation in Chinese.
ITRI developed the microcomputer technology and created a series of CMC microcomputers, which laid the foundation for Taiwan PC developments and marked a new chapter for its computer industry.
ITRI was commissioned by Chinese Petroleum Corporation to complete Taiwan’s first computer-controlled fuel pump.
ITRI set out the guidelines of product development procedure that included multiple review processes and precautions to enhance R&D quality. This became the basis of the standard procedure for computer system product development in Taiwan.
ITRI developed the PC-100, the first legal, Taiwan-made PC that was compatible with IBM’s PC/XT. PC-100 and ERSO BIOS boosted the growth of Taiwan’s computer information industry.
ITRI collaborated with Tatung Company, COPAM, and Jingye Co., Ltd. to and develope PC-400, a computer compatible with IBM PC/AT. This innovation further strengthened Taiwan's ICT industry.
ITRI launched the Smart Online Handwritten Chinese Recognition System. This simple and convenient tool allowed users to use an e-pen to communicate with the computer in Chinese.
ITRI developed a Chinese recognition system that enabled computers to read handwritten Chinese with a recognition rate as high as 94-96%. This tool could be applied in taxation, form processing, and credit card application processes.
ITRI developed the credit card-sized computer which condensed the PC into the size of a credit card. This formed the foundation for the development of Taiwan’s smart portable device.
