The Toby Churchill SL4a, the first Lightwriter produced, was an assistive device that allows people without the power of speech to communicate with other people. It features dual displays (one for the user, one for the reader) encouraging face-to-face communication, and also both an internal and external printer, enabling the user to print out messages, notes, essays and letters.

The Toby Churchill SL4a come built into a case for portability

After losing the ability to talk, Toby Churchill set out to design a portable communication aid using his engineering skills - creating a typewriter which instead of typing on paper, typed the message on a display, and this was then logically named the Lightwriter. Although having no plans at that time to make more than just for himself but, as he met other people in a similar position, realised that there was a demand for them and started to manufacture them for other people, founding the company Toby Churchill Ltd in 1973. This model dates from the 1990s. Toby Churchill Ltd became known as Abilia from 2017.

Manufacturer: Toby Churchill
Date: Unknown

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH74254. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

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