The PDP-12 (Programmed Data Processor) is a computer that was created by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in 1969 and marketed specifically for science and engineering.

It can be a laboratory-oriented machine[6] with several facilities for I/O, auxiliary storage, and control and sensing for external equipment or a general purpose computer with a flexible I/O capability that can support multiple peripheral devices.

[4] The basic package came with dual LINCtape drives, a scope display and I/O ports for interfacing with external laboratory equipment and peripherals.

[7] In addition to a display-based OS other software packages were included for data acquisition and display, Fourier analysis and mass spectrometry.

Classes were held at the main plant in Maynard, Massachusetts or in Palo Alto, California in the US, and also available in Reading in the United Kingdom, Cologne in Germany or Paris, France.