JOYBU, the NABU-inspired Joystick

thingiverse

In 2022, the vintage computer community discovered a long-forgotten piece of Canadian computing history. The NABU Network entered the computing scene in Ottawa, Ontario in 1982. Despite the visionary design of the NABU’s internet-like environment that included the delivery of software as a service, the company did not see success. When a cache of new, old stock NABU computers hit the market, I quickly snapped one up. Unfortunately, the packages sold did not include an original joystick. It would be easy enough to pick up and use an Atari-style joystick, but that would not give me an authentic NABU experience. I had to find my own solution, and I would like to share it with makers and vintage computer enthusiasts everywhere. Among the download files is a step-by-step guide for building the JOYBU, listing all of the required parts and tools. The JOYBU is my contribution to the NABU universe, and whether you use it with a NABU or a compatible device, I hope you like it.