Computer Chronicles

- Season 1

(1983)

The first episode of The Computer Chronicles to be taped for broadcast by PBS, with hosts Stewart Cheifet and Gary Kildall covering the history of the personal computer.

A new breed of integrated software suites utilize visual interfaces to simplify user tasks. Apple's Lisa and VisiCorp's Visi On are demonstrated, followed by a discussion of Quarterdeck's DESQview.

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The use of computers to simulate various real-world environments for military, entertainment and architectural applications.

A review of various operating systems and their effect on software development.

A staple of the computing industry since its inception, word processing is a necessary skill for all computer users to learn, and the type of program a user chooses can make all the difference in terms of productivity and efficiency.

Security issues related to the world's increasing dependence on information contained in computer networks.

Robotic hardware and software and robotics based applications.

A look at speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies.

Connecting computers, peripherals, broadband and baseband.

Discussion of the history and development of the microprocessor.

A look at the popular new software programs for business.

Floppy drives, hard drives, and bubble memory.

A look at the advancement of output technology from the daisy wheel to dot matrix to laser printing.

Mainframe and network databases for computer users. Guests include Gary Kildall, DRI; Roger Summit, Dialog; Jay Fitzgerald, The Source; Paul Schindler, Info Syst News.

A review of computer art, graphics capabilities of computers and professional computer graphics systems.

Expert systems software and artificial intelligence applications.

A look at health problems related to computer use such as video display radiation and repetitive stress injuries.

A review of current popular programming languages like FORTH, PASCAL and COBOL.

Computers have created a new platform for playing games, with human or computer opponents.

A look at the entrepreneurs who are driving the personal computer industry.

Fifth-Generation Computers and their applications as America and Japan fight for supremacy in the Artificial Intelligence arena are discussed with hosts Gary Kildall and Stewart Cheifet and interviewees Edward Feigenbaum, Professor of Computer Science, and Herb Lechner.

The concept of Artificial Intelligence is discussed in terms of research, computer design and real-world applications like oil drilling or medical diagnostics.

An early look at how computers are being used in formal education.