NOVA: THE MACHINE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, PART 3: THE PAPERBACK COMPUTER (TV)
Summary
One in this series of science documentaries. This program is the third part of a five-part series chronicling the history of computers. Episode three explores the following topics: the similarities between books and computers; early inventions, such as the "Computer Sketchpad" and the mouse, that were virtually ignored for years; Xerox PARC's experiments and progress in the world of computers; IBM's misguided assumption that ordinary people would not want to buy computers; Apple Computers' humble beginnings; IBM's first attempt at creating a home computer; Steve Jobs' brilliant marketing campaign for Apple Computers after IBM began to dominate the computer market; how computer programming has changed over the years; Bill Gates and his company, Microsoft; what a computer programmer must do to create a working program; how computers have given disabled children a way to communicate with others and access many materials that were not accessible to them before; and the beginnings of virtual reality. Also includes footage of Steve Jobs giving speeches to sales people about IBM; Apple's famous "1984" commercial depicting a world dominated by IBM as an oppressive totalitarian state; Jean Piaget's well-known experiment about perception; and a student film about the trials and tribulations of a computer programmer. Includes a promo for the next episode in this series.
Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WGBH Boston, MA
- DATE: April 20, 1992
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:44
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:29972
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/Documentaries; History; Computers
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1974-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "Nova: The Machine That Changed The World"
CREDITS
- Jon Palfreman … Executive Producer, Director, Writer
- Robert Hone … Producer, Director, Writer
- Lauren Seeley … Associate Producer
- Peter Howell … Music by
- BBC Radiophonic Workshop … Music by
- Willie Lyman … Narrator
- Canon Tiller
- Mitchell Kapor
- Theodore Holm Nelson
- Larry Tesler
- Alan Kay
- Ted Hoff
- Steve Jobs
- Stephen Wozniak
- Lee Felsenstein
- Bill Gates
- Ann Meyers
- Dr. Henry Fuchs
- Dr. Jane Richards
- Dr. Frederick Brooks
- Chris Peters