MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems)
MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems) was a pioneering electronics company founded in 1969 by Ed Roberts in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Originally focused on calculator kits and telemetry devices, MITS would go on to launch the Altair 8800 in 1975—widely regarded as the spark that ignited the personal computer revolution.
The Altair 8800, featured on the cover of Popular Electronics magazine, was a build-it-yourself computer kit based on the Intel 8080. It inspired thousands of hobbyists and gave rise to the S-100 bus standard. The Altair’s popularity also drew the attention of Paul Allen and Bill Gates, who offered to create a BASIC interpreter for it—leading to the founding of Microsoft.
MITS was acquired by Pertec in 1977, and its influence declined soon after. Nonetheless, its role in PC history is monumental.
💡 Did You Know?
- The Altair 8800 had no keyboard or screen—it was programmed using front-panel switches and LEDs.
- The S-100 bus developed for the Altair became an industry standard.
- Microsoft’s first product, Altair BASIC, was written for the Altair 8800.