The article discusses the historical advantages of using 9-bit bytes instead of the current 8-bit standard in computing, arguing that a 9-bit system could have led to better scalability in areas such as IPv4 addressing, UNIX timestamps, and Unicode character representation. It explores potential benefits, such as reducing limits on data structures and improving memory usage, while also considering the implications for various protocols and systems.

The article is a tribute to the Sphere 1 computer, launched in 1975 by Sphere Corporation in Utah. It highlights the computer's innovative design, its historical context, and the efforts of historian Ben Zotto to document its legacy through a virtual museum and ongoing research. Zotto invites those with Sphere-related materials or stories to contribute to the preservation of this obscure piece of computing history.