The Sinclair ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit home computer released in 1982 by Sinclair Research. It was one of the first affordable personal computers, popularizing home computing in the UK. The Spectrum featured a rubber keyboard and came in various models with different memory capacities, ranging from 16KB to 128KB. The ZX Spectrum was known for its colorful graphics and sound capabilities, which allowed for a wide range of video games and educational software. It played a significant role in the early gaming industry, inspiring many developers and leading to the creation of a vibrant software market during the 1980s.