About this season
The Computer Chronicles was an American television series, broadcast during 1981-2002 on Public Broadcasting Service public television, which documented the rise of the personal computer from its infancy to the immense market at the turn of the 21st century. The series was created in the Fall of 1981, by Stewart Cheifet, then the station manager of the College of San Mateo's KCSM-TV, initially broadcast as a local weekly series. Jim Warren was its founding host for its 1981-1982 season. It aired continuously from 1981 to 2002 with Cheifet co-hosting most of its later seasons. Gary Kildall served as co-host for six years providing insights and commentary on products as well as discussions on the future of the ever-expanding personal computer sphere.
Episodes (34)
1. Educational Software: Part 1
Aired 16 September 1986 • 30 min
A review of new software titles for use in schools and at home education. Products/Demos: Operation Frog, Apple Classroom Tomorrow, Reader Rabbit, Magic Slate, Animal Kingdom, Voyage of the Mimi. https://archive.org/details/Educatio1986
2. Educational Software: Part 2
Aired 23 September 1986 • 30 min
A look at on-line educational services and self-teaching software programs. Products/Demos: InfoMinder, National Gallery of Art, Talking Software Pre-Readers The Balancing Act, Plato. http://www.archive.org/details/Educatio1986_2
3. MIDI Music
Aired 30 September 1986 • 30 min
Computers and music, MIDI machines and interfaces, and music composition software. Casio SK-1 Synthesizer, Atari ST, Activision's Music Studio, ADAP Sampler, DSP-1000, Apple II GS, Ensoniq Sound Chip, Soundscape, Commodore AmigaEZ Track, Kidnotes. http://www.archive.org/details/MIDIMusi1986
4. RISC Processors
Aired 7 October 1986 • 30 min
Reduced Instruction Set Computers are a new approach to speeding up computer processing. Guests: Joel Birnbaum, Hewlett Packard; David Patterson, UC Berkeley; Frank King, IBM; Hugh Martin, Ridge Computers; Jan Lewis, Palo Alto Research Group; George Morrow, Morrow Computing; Nickolas Dunckel, TRW Products/Demos: HP Spectrum https://archive.org/details/RISC1986
5. Utilities
Aired 14 October 1986 • 30 min
PC utiltities, file manipulators, disk managers, DOS aids, and other PC tools. Guests: Ed Tolson, SoftLogic Solutions; Dale Sinor, Executive Systems; Karen Lund, Tele-Ware; Robert Hoffman, Ashton-Tate; Ezra Shapiro, BYTE Magazine; Jay Eisnelohr, Airus; Gary Kildall, Digital Research; George Morrow, Intelligent Access Products/Demos: Sidekick, Norton Utilities, Sideways, Double DOS, Disk Optimizer, Xtree & HOT, Above Disc, Détente. https://archive.org/details/Utilitie1986
6. Second Hand Computers
Aired 21 October 1986 • 30 min
A look at the used computer market at who is selling them, who is buying them and what the risks and benefits are. Guests: J. Mark Crouch, Interstate Computer Bank; Stan Politi, Computer Currents; Bradley Ruedig, CAS Used Computers; Alexander Randall, Boston Computer Exch; George Morrow, Intelligent Access; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: Dysan Interrogator, Leading Edge https://archive.org/details/SecondHa1986
7. Desktop Publishing: Part 1
Aired 28 October 1986 • 30 min
First of a two-part series on desktop publishing focusing on new software applications for the Macintosh. Products/Demos: Comic Works, Ready, Set, Go, Fontographer, Fluent Fonts, Right Now, Desktop Art. http://www.archive.org/details/DesktopP1986
8. Desktop Publishing: Part 2
Aired 4 November 1986 • 30 min
Second part of this series on desktop publishing looking at software applications for DOS based computers. Guests: Richard Amen, Dest Corporation; John Meyer, Ventura Software; Roger Archibald, Hewlett Packard; Paul Brainerd, Aldus Corporation; Jonathan Seybold, Seybold Publications; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: DEST PC Scan Plus, Ventura Publisher, PostScript, PageMaker, HP DDL https://archive.org/details/DesktopP1987
9. Software Macros
Aired 11 November 1986 • 30 min
A user's guide to macros - automated sequences of commands for spreadsheets, word processors, and database programs. Guests: Lynne Hughes, McDonell Douglas; Alan Simpson, Author; Michael Lunsford, MacroPac; Daniel Gasteiger, Lotus Publishing; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: dBase III, VP Planner, Lotus 123, Symphony https://archive.org/details/GuidetoM1986
10. RAM Resident Software
Aired 18 November 1986 • 30 min
A look at new software programs that reside in RAM and are always ready but may conflict with each other. Guests: David Whitney, Access Learning Tech; Dale Leatherman, Prodex; Robert Luhn, PC World; Richard Kraus, Persoft; Chip Rabinowitz, Amer Video Teleconf; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: In-Synch, Note-It, Prodex 1.3, Referee https://archive.org/details/RAMResid1986
11. Comdex Special 1986
Aired 25 November 1986 • 30 min
A review of the newest hardware and software as exhibited at the annual fall Comdex show in Las Vegas. Guests: Hal Glatzer, Software News; Tim Bajarin, Creative Strategies; Jan Lewis, Palo Alto Research Group Products/Demos: Hyundai & Samsung 386 PCs, Compaq 386 PC, Zenith PortableNEC Multispeed, Datavue SNAPPC Movie Maker, Smart Sneaker, Phonetic Engine, Hitachi & Toshiba Drives, Okidata & LED Laser Printers, QMS and HP Printers. https://archive.org/details/ComdexSp1986
12. Project Management Software
Aired 2 December 1986 • 30 min
A user's guide to project management programs, strategies, and approaches. Guests: Jim Dunnigan, Microsoft; David Bryan, Breakthrough Software; Nancy Ann Twomey, Computer Assoc; Glenn Katz, Stanford; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: MacProjectTimeline, Microsoft Project, MicroPlanner Plus, Superproject Plus 2.0 http://www.archive.org/details/ProjectM1986
13. Christmas Buyers Guide
Aired 9 December 1986 • 30 min
A review of available hardware and software gifts for techies. Products/Demos: Calendar Creator, HP Financial Consultant, Business Simulator, Muppet Learning Keys Toy Shop, Pen Mouse, Looking Your Best, AmnesiaPC, and Type Right. Originally broadcast in 1986. Guests include George Morrow, Paul Schindler, and Wendy Woods. Stewart Cheifet is host. Copyright 1986 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/details/Christma1986
14. Electronic Mail
Aired 16 December 1986 • 30 min
A look at new email systems, comparative advantages and pitfalls and new email accessories and tools. Guests: Stuart Davidson, MCI; Jeff Anderholm, Lotus; Lloyd Kreuzer, Kreuzer Software; Carl Berney, Speech Plus; Charles Foskett, Natural Microsystems; Jan Lewis, Palo Alto Research Group Products/Demos: Lotus Express, MCI Mail, The Source, Call for Text, Watson https://archive.org/details/Electron1986
15. Intel 386 Microprocessor
Aired 23 December 1986 • 30 min
A review of the new Intel 386 chip and the new super-fast computers and applications that take advantage of its speed. Guests: Dana Krelle, Intel; Michael Swavely, Compaq; Robert Dilworth, Zenith; Neil Colvin, Phoenix Technologies; Jan Lewis, Palo Alto Research Group Products/Demos: Compaq Deskpro 386, Intel 80386 Microprocessor, Zenith Z-386, VP/ix, UNIX 386. https://archive.org/details/Intel3861987
16. On-Line Services: Part 1
Aired 30 December 1986 • 30 min
First of a two-part series on on-line services such as CompuServe, the Source and DowJones, featuring Steve Case, at the time VP of Marketing at QuantumLink, and eventual head of AOL. Guests: Clay Cocalis, Dow Jones; Nancy Tulley, Delphi; Jack O'Grady, Intelmatique; Steve Case, QuantumLink; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: CompuServe, Commodore Network, People Connection, Free Text Search, Computer Express, Minitel. http://archive.org/details/On-LineD1987
17. On-Line Services: Part 2
Aired 6 January 1987 • 30 min
Second part of a series on information retrieval looking at specialized services such as Bix, Dialog, QuantumLink and NewsNet. Guests: Dick Kollin, Telebase Systems; Doug Webster, BYTE; Roger Summit, Dialog Info Services; Connie Tomal, Mead Data Central; George Morrow, Morrow Computing Products/Demos: Lotus One Source, BIX, Lexis Nexis, Information on Demand, Dialog, EasyNet https://archive.org/details/On-LineD1987_2
18. Intelligent Buildings
Aired 20 January 1987 • 30 min
A survey of the technology embedded in modern office buildings and private homes. Shot in Hong Kong. Guests: Dr. Po S. Chung, Chinese University HK; Martin Spurrier, HongKong Land Group; R. A. Guy, HS Property Management; Donald Birch, Cathay Pacific; P G H Greene, HongKong Bank; Eric Vincent, Cable & Wireless; Ronald Suen, Kowloon Hotel; William Phillips, Baring Securities; Alfred Ho, Government Info Services http://www.archive.org/details/Intellig1987
19. Modems
Aired 27 January 1987 • 30 min
20. Speech Recognition & Synthesis
Aired 3 February 1987 • 30 min
An look at the latest advances in speech technology involving both voice recognition and speech synthesis. Guests: Michael O'Malley, Berkeley Speech Tech; Charles Cochran, Electronic Speech Sys; Steve Bettencourt, Votan; Janet Baker, Dragon Systems; George Morrow, Morrow Computing Products/Demos: Speech Plus, Software Speech, BestSpeech, VoiceKey, Voice Libraries, Voice Scribe 1000 https://archive.org/details/SpeechRe1987
21. Tax Preparation Software
Aired 10 February 1987 • 30 min
A review of the latest software titles to help you manage and file your income taxes including a look at on-line filing. Guests: Henry Hilton, Double Eagle Software; Susan Morgan, Softview; James Petersen, Best Programs; Michael Chipman, ChipSoft; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: Tax Advantage, Mac-in-Tax, PC TaxCut, TurboTax http://www.archive.org/details/TaxPrepa1987
22. Portable Computers
Aired 17 February 1987 • 30 min
A review of the latest laptop computers, new display screen technology and common applications.. Guests: Bob Wade, Tany/Radio Shack; James Barlett, NEC; Andrew Czernek, Zenith Data Systems; Thomas Sherrard, Toshiba; Britt Blaser, Dynamac; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: Workslate, Tandy Model 100 & 200, NEC Multispeed, Zenith Z-181, Toshiba T-1100 & T-3100, Grid Laptop, Mac Portable http://www.archive.org/details/Portable1987
23. Computers and Kids
Aired 24 February 1987 • 30 min
A look at young people and how they are using computers for pleasure and for education. Guests: Aaron Arakawa, Nueva Learning Center; Ben Wu, Miller Jr High; Laura Risk, Aptos Middle School; Robin Lee, Leyva Jr High; Arin Epstein, Foothill Middle School; Clifton Dalgard, Leyva Jr High Products/Demos: Voting Program, The World of the IIe, LogoWriter, Integer Base, Teachtype. https://archive.org/details/Komputer1987
24. Computers and the Arts
Aired 3 March 1987 • 30 min
Computers are moving form math and engineering to the world of the arts. A look at how artists are using computer technology. Guests: Eddie Dombrower, DOM Dance Press; Larry Friedlander, Stanford; Charles Kerns, Stanford; John Burke, Oakland Museum; Stacy Mitchell, Great Wave Software Products/Demos: DOM Dance Notation, PatchworkTheater, GameMac, VisionMac, SpinConcertWare, Terpsichore. http://www.archive.org/details/Computer1987
25. Computers and Illiteracy
Aired 10 March 1987 • 30 min
A review of how computers are being used in innovative programs to teach basic literacy skills to adults. Guests: John Fleischman, La Puente Adult Schools; Jane Nissen Laidley, People's Computer Co; Dr. John Henry Martin, IBM; Gary Kildall, Digital Research Products/Demos: LEAP Functional Literacy, Adult Literacy and Learning, Maze Mania http://www.archive.org/details/Computer1987_2
26. Computers and Gambling
Aired 17 March 1987 • 30 min
27. Business Applications: Part 1 - Word Processors
Aired 24 March 1987
28. Business Applications: Part 2 - Spreadsheets 1
Aired 31 March 1987
29. Business Applications: Part 3 - Spreadsheets 2
Aired 7 April 1987
30. Business Applications: Part 4 - Database Management Software
Aired 14 April 1987
31. The New Macs
Aired 21 April 1987
32. IBM PS/2
Aired 28 April 1987
33. Super Computers
Aired 5 May 1987
34. PC Clones from Asia
Aired 12 May 1987