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Series · 1984 – 2002 · Talk

Computer Chronicles

★7.7 1984 – 2002 19 Seasons Stewart Cheifet TV-MA

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.

Seasons & episodes

19 seasons · 491 episodes

Mainframes to Minis to Micros

Episode 01

Mainframes to Minis to Micros

Feb 5, 1984 · 23 min

Covers the history and ancestry of today's (1984) PC. Demos: HP 150 PC, Computer Museum, TX-1 Computer http://archive.org/details/MainFram1984

Integrated Software

Episode 02

Integrated Software

Feb 12, 1984

The new breed of integrated software suites and the visual interface. Demos: Apple LisaVisiOn, DESQ http://archive.org/details/Integrat1984

Computer Music

Episode 03

Computer Music

Feb 19, 1984

The computer as a creative tool used to make, display and store music. Guests: John Chowning, Stanford; Will Harvey, Electronic Arts; Ellen Lapham, Syntauri; Gary Kildall, DRI Products/Demos: Music Construction Set, Alpha Syntauri Keyboard, Casiotone, Vocal Synthesizer, MIT Experimental Music Studio, Stanford Center for Computer Music. Originally broadcast in 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/details/Computer1984

Computer Simulations

Episode 04

Computer Simulations

Feb 26, 1984

The use of computers to simulate various real-world environments for military, entertainment and architectural applications. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Frank Lewandowski, Singer-Link; Steve Harrison, Skidmore Owings; Bruce Artwick, IBM Products/Demos: Flight Simulator, Military Flight Simulator, DRAFT Architecture Simulator http://archive.org/details/Simulati1984

Operating Systems

Episode 05

Operating Systems

Mar 4, 1984

A review of competing operating systems and their affect on software development. Guests: Gary Kildall, SRI; Tony Fanning, Hewlett Packard; Jean Yates, Yates Ventures; Bruce Tognizinni, Apple; Herb Lechner, SRI Products/Demos: CP/MUNIXXenix, MS/DOS, Apple IIe & AppleTalk. Originally broadcast in March 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. http://www.archive.org/details/Operatin1984

Word Processing

Episode 06

Word Processing

Mar 5, 1984

A review of the new generation of word processors. Demos: Word, Vision, Writer's Work Bench Text Editor, Word Plus, Punctuation & StyleWordStar http://archive.org/details/WordProc1984

Computer Security

Episode 07

Computer Security

Mar 12, 1984

Security issues related to the world's increasing dependence on information in computer networks. Demos: Digi-Link, Add & Answer Verification http://archive.org/details/Computer1984_2

Robotics

Episode 08

Robotics

Mar 19, 1984

Robotic hardware and software and robotics based applications. Demos: Hero I Robot, Teach Mover Robot http://archive.org/details/Robotics1984

Speech Synthesis

Episode 09

Speech Synthesis

Mar 26, 1984

A look at speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies. Demos: Minolta Talking Camera, Texas Instruments Speak & Spell, Epsom Speech Plus Computer, IBM Votan V-5000 http://archive.org/details/SpeechSy1984

Local Area Networks

Episode 10

Local Area Networks

Apr 2, 1984

Connecting computers, peripherals, broadband and baseband. Demos: Centralized Intelligence, Distributed Intelligence, Local Area Network http://archive.org/details/Networki1984

Microchip Technology

Episode 11

Microchip Technology

Apr 5, 1984

History and development of the microprocessor. Demos: AMD 2901 (4 bit), AMD 29116 (16 bit) http://archive.org/details/Microchi1984

Business Applications

Episode 12

Business Applications

Apr 9, 1984

A look at the popular new software programs for business. Demos: Lotus 123, SuperCalc 3PC Talk, CrossTalk, IBM Professional Office System http://archive.org/details/Business1984

Storage Devices

Episode 13

Storage Devices

Apr 16, 1984

Floppy drives, hard drives, and bubble memory. Demos: 5 ¼ inch floppy drive, 3 ½ inch floppy drive, RCA CED videodisk, 3680 1.2 GB spindle disk http://archive.org/details/StorageD1984

Printers

Episode 14

Printers

Apr 23, 1984

Printer technology from daisy wheel to dot matrix to laser. Demos: Diablo Daisy Wheel Printer, Diablo Thermal Printer, Diablo Series C Ink Jet Printer, Xerox Color Laser Printer http://archive.org/details/Printers1984

Database Software

Episode 15

Database Software

Apr 30, 1984

Mainframe and network databases for computer users. Demos: The Source, CompuServe, Dialog Information Services http://archive.org/details/Database1984

Computer Graphics

Episode 16

Computer Graphics

May 7, 1984

A review of computer art, graphics capabilities of computers and professional computer graphics systems. Guests: Herb Lechner, SRI International; Don McKinney, Silicon Graphics; Michael Arent, Freelance Artist; Kevin Prince, MCI/Quantel; Ann Chase, Freelance Artist Products/Demos: MCI Quantel PaintBox, Silicon Graphics 3D Animation, Apple IIe. Originally broadcast in 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/download/Computer1984_6

Decision Support Systems

Episode 17

Decision Support Systems

May 14, 1984

Expert systems software and artificial intelligence applications. Guests: Gary Kildall, DRI; Mike Thoma, Mgmt Decisn Sys; Steve Weyl, Syntelligence; Jim Chapman, Human Edge SW Products/Demos: Strategic Simulations Epidemic, Prospector, CompuStat, Easy Scan, Sales Edge. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions https://archive.org/details/Decision1984

Computer Ergonomics

Episode 18

Computer Ergonomics

May 21, 1984

A look at health problems related to computer use such as video display radiation and repetitive stress injuries. Guests: Herb Lechner, SRI International; Wanda Smith, Hewlett Packard; Karen Kessel, Koffler Group; Susan Kare, Apple; Jerry Manock, Apple. Products/Demos: Apple Macintosh, HP Orion Computer. https://archive.org/details/Computer1984_3

Programming Languages

Episode 19

Programming Languages

Jun 25, 1984

A review of current popular programming languages. Guests: Gary Kildall, DRI; Paul Grady, Microfocus; Dave Eisenberg, Apple; Elizabeth Rather, Forth Products/Demos: COBOLFORTHFORTH Graphics, PASCAL, Apple's Personal COBOL. http://archive.org/details/Programm1984

Software Utilities

Episode 20

Software Utilities

Jul 2, 1984

No description available.

Computer Games

Episode 21

Computer Games

Sep 28, 1984

Computers are creating an entirely new platform for playing games, between humans or between humans and computers. Guests: Trip Hawkins, Electronic Arts; Bill Budge, Game Designer; Chris Crawford, Atari; Steve Kitchen, Activision Products/Demos: Pinball Construction Set, One on One, Space Shuttle, Excaliber, Larry Bird Basketball. Originally broadcast in September 1984. Copyright 1984 Stewart Cheifet Productions. https://archive.org/details/Computer1984_4

Computer Entrepreneurs

Episode 22

Computer Entrepreneurs

Oct 5, 1984

A look at the people who are driving the personal computer industry. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Steve Wozniak, Apple; Adam Osborne, Osborne Computer; Lore Harp, Vector Graphic; Gene Amdahl, Trilogy Systems. http://archive.org/details/Computer1984_5

Fifth Generation Computers

Episode 23

Fifth Generation Computers

Oct 12, 1984

Japan's fifth generation computer project and a look at the next phase of PC platforms. Shot in Japan. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, MCC; Ed Feigenbaum, Author; Dr. Hideo Aiso, Keio University; Dr. Yukio Mizuno, NEC; Dr. Hiroshi Kashiwagi, NSP; Dr. Kuzuhiro Fuchi, ICOT; Dr. Tohru Moto-Aka, Univ Tokyo Products/Demos: KIP System, Pattern Matching, Inference Machine, Prologue http://archive.org/details/FifthGen1984

Super Computers

Episode 24

Super Computers

Oct 19, 1984

An early look at supercomputers in the United States and Japan. Featured guests include George Michael, head of computer research of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, John Repp of Control Data Corporation, Dr. Hideo Aiso, Professor at Keio University in Japan, Dr. Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Chairman of Japan's National Supercomputer Project, and Dr. Yukio Mizuno, Senior Vice President of NEC. The program also features on location coverage in Japan of the country's supercomputer projects including the Hitachi S810-20 at the University of Tokyo and the Electro Technical Laboratory in Tsukuba, Japan. http://archive.org/details/CC126_supercomputers

Artificial Intelligence

Episode 25

Artificial Intelligence

Oct 26, 1984

An early look at artificial Intelligence. Guests includes Edward Feigenbaum of Stanford University, Nils Nilsson of the AI Center at SRI International, Tom Kehler of Intellegenetics, Herb Lechner of SRI, and John McCarthy of Stanford. Featured demonstrations include Inferential Knowledge Engineering and the programming language LISP. http://archive.org/details/CC1024_artificial_intelligence

Computers in Education

Episode 26

Computers in Education

Nov 2, 1984

An early look at how computers are being used in formal education. Guests include Professor Patrick Suppes of Stanford University and Glenn Kleiman, author of "Brave New Schools". Includes demonstrations of the LOGO and BASIC languages. Guest host is Herb Lechner of SRI International. http://archive.org/details/education_2

About the series

Computer Chronicles poster
Audience score
★ 7.7 /10

based on 3 votes

Synopsis

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.

Talk

Cast

1 principal cast

Stewart Cheifet

Stewart Cheifet

Self - Host

Where to watch Computer Chronicles

Computer Chronicles is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The talk from Stewart Cheifet has 19 seasons and 491 total episodes, rated 7.7/10 by 3 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does Computer Chronicles have?

Computer Chronicles has 19 seasons with 491 episodes in total.

Is Computer Chronicles still on the air?

Computer Chronicles has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs Computer Chronicles?

Computer Chronicles airs on PBS.

When did Computer Chronicles first air?

Computer Chronicles first aired on February 5, 1984.

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