Lo-tech keeps classic technology alive while preserving how it was meant to be used. Through hardware and software — from retro PC expansion cards to systems like Autostream that connect CD and record players to AirPlay speakers — the work extends the useful life of systems we love.
The work began with self-assembly expansion boards for vintage IBM-compatible and Tandy PCs, designed to make early personal computers practical and usable today. The range includes memory, storage, sound, and diagnostic boards, many of which remain in regular production and are available through the authorised distributor TexElec.
Over time, Lo-tech projects have expanded beyond retro PCs to include embedded systems and modern integrations built around platforms such as Raspberry Pi. These projects connect legacy devices with contemporary technology, from hardware interfaces and display adapters to software systems like autostream, which brings CDs and vinyl into modern AirPlay environments.
Why Retro Systems?
Early computer hardware offered a level of transparency we don’t see now: it is possible to understand systems from hardware through firmware to application software. This accessibility allows experimentation, repair, and new development in ways that are increasingly difficult with modern closed platforms.
Likewise, audio systems were built around simplicity and listening, offering direct, understandable interaction rather than layered services or subscription models.
Retro game de-compilations and source ports similarly reveal the deep correlation between software and hardware that enabled such limited hardware to produce what were then jaw-dropping visuals and immersive experiences through careful engineering and design.
Lo-tech explores all of this space by applying modern engineering techniques to classic technology, enabling continued use, deeper understanding, and new possibilities for established systems.
Availability
Lo-tech projects are designed to be accessible and well documented:
- Lo-tech boards are available through the authorised distributor TexElec.
- Documentation and technical details are available through the site wiki.
- Software projects are available through Github.
If you have an idea for a Lo-tech project, please get in touch.
