Your Computability Home cassette has been indexed with a color code for your convenience.
The introduction in Magenta contains an overview of the world of the home computer.
The white glossary explains some of the more common terms you'll encounter on your journey
into this new world.
The spreadsheet section in red shows you how a computer can help with numbers and calculations.
Household Systems, Green, a quick guide to a computer's applications in the day-to-day
running of a home.
Databases in amber, this section explores a computer's ability to retrieve lists and
information.
Educational programs, the pink color code unlocks the door to a wide range of learning
programs available.
The word processing, blue section, illustrates a computer's invaluable help when writing
anything from a letter to a novel.
Hello, my name is Philip.
I'm a shiny new computer.
I'm very advanced for my age.
I'm going to give you a brief course in some of the simpler computer terms you may need.
Ready?
Let us start.
Stop.
That's better.
What's the matter, Steve?
Am I going too fast for you?
Now be honest.
The main reason you've bought, rented, or stolen this video cassette is that Philip
here is most people's idea of a computer, a terrifying complex mathematical brain that
can outthink a mere mortal and at a dizzying speed.
Well, all that is true.
They're also incapable of error.
Also true.
All computer errors can be traced back to some human.
People make errors.
We are infallible.
Getting to be a pain, isn't it?
However, there's one thing that Philip the computer has forgotten to mention.
What's that, Steve?
Computers can be switched off.
Hey.
Good.
Now we can start.
I've just taken the first step in learning about computers, and it's an important one.
I am the boss.
Is Jane around?
No?
Good.
I'll say that again.
I am the boss.
But seriously, computers are a tool.
Nothing more.
They can make your life simpler or enhance it beyond your wildest dreams.
But the key word is simple.
You don't need to be a mathematician to use a home computer.
You don't even know how a computer works necessarily.
All you have to remember is that it's a machine that does things very fast.
Things that would take you hours, days, sometimes months.
And you are in control.
Keep in mind that this computer here is a useless collection of circuits and switches
unless I want to change it to a useful instrument that can help me organize my life.
This tape you're watching will become your partner in demystifying computers.
Use this tape as a retrieval tool to not only introduce yourself to things home computers
can do for you, but to constantly remind yourself of your computer's value.
Use the glossary when confused and gain insight with the application section on how to use
your computer to enrich your life.
Now we've even color coded the section so that you can easily find a particular piece
of information.
Right now we're in the introduction.
Is this the introduction?
Thank you.
As you can see, the set around me is magenta.
Now on the back of your cassette box you'll find the color code and the introduction is
in magenta.
And by using the picture scan on your VCR you can find any section you want fast.
Here are some basics.
There are two terms that confuse a lot of people.
Hardware and software.
Now this computer is hardware.
See how hard it is?
The bare bones for the job.
A computer without software would be like a stereo without a record collection.
There are, am, is the programs that tell a computer what to do.
They're a hidden cost in buying a computer because they're sometimes more expensive than
the article itself.
Tell it like it is baby.
You can of course make up your own programs, but that takes time and experience, trust
me.
Software usually comes in the form of a floppy disk.
Voila.
It won't put a strain on your brain to figure out why it's called floppy.
Huh?
All right.
But careful.
It's a very fragile little number.
It comes in single and double sided editions and in single and double density.
Now one side of a single density disk can store the equivalent of about 50 typewritten
pages.
The more you pay, the more storage space you get.
Just like everything else in life I suppose.
There's another thing to keep in mind, horsepower.
The equivalent in a computer is memory.
Thanks for them.
Two memories.
Random access memory, RAM for short, and read only memory, R-O-M, ROM.
As in the case of the horsepower in a car or the power output in a stereo, you'll find
a lot of guys showing off how much RAM and ROM their computers have.
You know, real macho stuff.
Well ROM is the memory built into the computer when it's made.
You can't change it.
It does all the housekeeping chores such as accepting information from the keyboard or
a floppy disk, deciding what to do with it and how to display it.
RAM, R-A-M, is the real important thing.
It's the part of the computer's memory to which you have access.
It's tens of thousands of tiny circuits constantly changing according to your needs.
And when you switch the computer off, boom, RAM's gone.
Instant amnesia.
So, if you need to store your facts and figures, they go on to, that's right, a floppy disk.
Now, how much RAM do you need?
Well, just enough for the job.
Word processing requires a certain amount.
Filing and spreadsheets, another.
So without wishing to sound like a county fair, buy enough RAM.
Well, we can't teach you everything about using your computer with this one instructional
tape, but what I can do is open your eyes to the wonderful things your computer can
do for you.
Applications.
That's what it's all about.
As with the driving you have to do, every car, even every drive is different.
So enjoy your computer.
Enjoy expanding your life.
One of the things you've got to get used to with a home computer is the sometimes confusing
jargon people use.
Now, in this section, Jane's going to explain what all those complicated terms mean.
Hi, everyone.
Well, not quite everyone's there, Jane, but a lot of people are, I'm sure.
I'm going to try to define a few words that you'll hear in a computer store, read in an
ad or puzzle over in an owner's manual.
Now the bit is the basic unit of a computer.
Each number and letter you feed into a computer is translated into electronic impulses.
Each impulse is called a bit.
The combination of bits that make up a number or a letter is called a byte.
There are eight bits in a byte.
And they're called chips.
Now you wouldn't want to eat these because they're a collection of transistors and other
components wired together on the surface of a tiny piece of silicon.
They look like centipedes, but they're the building blocks of a computer.
The central chip is called the central processing unit or CPU.
It's also called the microprocessor.
This is the traffic control center of the computer.
It handles all the information coming in from the keyboard or from disks and sends it out
to the monitor, disk or printer.
The CPU performs all the calculations and while we're on the subject, disk drive.
This is like a record player.
It turns a small plastic disk and can either take information from it or put information
onto it.
This can either store information or store the software, the program instructions a computer
needs to function.
There are floppy disks, which are thin and flexible and very fragile.
There are also hard disks, which can store much greater amounts of information.
Hacker.
It's not a writer and not a bad golfer.
A hacker is a computer enthusiast who eats, drinks and sleeps computers.
Now a hacker would definitely own a modem.
This is a device that changes the electronic impulses in the computer into sounds that
can be carried over a telephone line.
Very useful for communicating with other computers, data banks, information services, etc.
As you'll see.
Tape drives.
Tape drives are much slower than the disk type because they store the data sequentially,
just like tape music.
There are 200 other terms, most of which you'll never need.
You'll pick up a lot of them the more you work with your computer, but remember, the
nice thing about the new breed of home personal computers is that they use English.
Because learning a lot of new words can be pretty intimidating at first, but I guarantee
in a few weeks you'll be using these terms as easily as counting from one to ten.
Well, are we ready for the next section, Steve?
Not really, Jane, but we'll go ahead and do it anyway.
Anyway, why don't we switch on the hardware, slide in the software, rev up the RAMs, put
the byte on a few chips and see what comes up in the old CRT.
This is just what he's like at home.
But we're going to show you some of the multitude of things a computer of reasonable cost can
do in your home.
Steve is carrying a number of floppy disks.
Story of my life.
Which you can buy at most computer stores.
A word of warning, however.
Caveat emptor.
That's two words.
But yes, buyer beware.
I thought we weren't trying to confuse everyone.
Sorry.
But make sure the program.
Software.
Yes, programmer software will run on your particular system because some software will
work only on Apple computers, some only on IBMs and so on.
It's like when Uncle Fred gave us those beta tapes last year.
I remember it well.
We have a VHS machine.
So do be careful.
Computers were originally invented to compute, but you'll be amazed at all the other uses
you can put one to.
But when you start to play with numbers, you'll see what a time saver a computer is.
We'll be using a number of computers in these demonstrations.
And what you see on our screens may not look exactly like what you'll see on your screen
using different software.
However, you will get a clear idea of the incredible possibilities of a home computer.
A spreadsheet is a program which lets you automatically calculate figures for any purpose
you choose.
Right.
You can run these programs on the market and they could be a godsend for the small business
or the poor soul trying to figure out a checkbook or a household budget.
Like me.
Like us.
Right.
Presto.
Our household expenses.
We spent that much in one week.
We run a diet.
Just look at your play money near the bottom.
When I play, I play hard.
Yes, you're right.
Now suppose we both have an argument and I win.
This is suppose?
Yes.
And I say that Jane is spending far too much money.
Hmm, that's not so bad.
No.
You spent only $210 last week.
Exactly.
But look at the week ending May 19th.
$602.
Well, my friend Barbara was in town.
You didn't have to buy it for her.
Oh.
Do you know you spent over the last 10 weeks an average of $330.50 a week?
Okay, Smarty.
Let's see how much you spent on records and tapes this last year.
Well, you get the idea.
$809.
Hmm.
Now let's say I think we're, oh, paying too much interest in our credit card payments.
Okay.
I can find out exactly how much interest we've paid so far this year.
Hmm.
Now that's a lot of money.
Wow, you can say that again.
Anyway, this spreadsheet will figure out how much we can save by increasing our monthly
payments.
And if it's manageable within our overall budget.
It can calculate almost anything you might like to know about your household finances.
It can even predict how much you will spend.
This computer hasn't known you very long, has it?
It can even predict alimony payments.
Now, we've all had trouble balancing our checkbook.
Oh, when my bank statement arrives, I know I'm in for a headache.
Then too?
But with a computer, all your problems vanish.
Eh, not quite.
You're still broke, but at least you know where the money went.
Here's my check register.
Now, you still have to enter the transaction just as you would in your checkbook, but throw
away your calculator because the computer does the adding.
And unfortunately, the subtracting.
For you.
Just watch.
Now, here's the important part.
Steve.
My bank statement says that I've got $10 less than the computer.
Hmm.
Did you take off all the checks that haven't cleared yet?
Uh-huh.
So either the bank's computer made a mistake or our computer did.
No, computers don't make errors.
The fault, dear Jane, lies in frail humanity.
I'll bet you entered an amount incorrectly.
Well now, can the computer tell me where I made my mistake?
It sure can.
And without your wasting time having to cross-check every entry, you can also use the same software
to keep tabs on all your credit card charges.
Useful.
Then you can add the lot up and find out how much you've got and how much they want.
Yes.
And if you have any leftover, you're a better man than I am, IBM.
The great thing about a spreadsheet is that you can get the computer to add, subtract,
multiply, or divide any number of rows, any number of columns.
You can forget sitting for hours with a pencil, a calculator, and a pot of coffee.
Of course, you can keep a record of all your expenditures on your property.
Mm-hmm.
And this works wonders if you're planning to sell the house.
You can also plan for the future, see all the options available to you, and make a choice.
Yes, without groping in the dark.
Although actually, I'm not all that opposed on principle to groping in the dark.
Steve, Steve.
But anyway, let's say Jane and I are planning an addition.
What?
To the house, Jane.
Oh.
Anyway, here's how I've budgeted it.
Incidentally, these machines are a snap to use, but saying things like budgeted it, try
that with your mouth.
Budgeted.
It.
You left, see, it's not all that easy.
Anyway, seriously, those are the estimates I got.
Now let's assume that's way too much for our pocketbook right now, okay?
What to do?
And, to make matters worse, they've discovered water seepage when they were digging around.
They tell me that's going to cost another $500.
Now see how that new entry also changed the total.
No more calculating, but now we're way over the $15,000 we've budgeted ourselves.
Something's got to give.
Yep.
And as usual, I think it's going to be me.
I wanted a skylight, so if we lose that, we save $900.
$400 for labor and $500 in materials.
We're still over.
Okay, so we won't have that extra bathroom.
All right.
Plumber tells me that'll save $1,000.
Yeah.
And the builder says another $1,200.
Leaping lizards, we made it.
A spreadsheet is just like having a big scratch pad and an automatic calculator.
You can examine all the options until you've found the right one without a lot of wear
and tear on your erasing muscles.
Oh, your nerves.
Most of us are only too familiar with mortgage payments.
Your computer can help you in two ways.
It can keep track of the interest paid on a mortgage.
And we all know how and when that comes in useful.
And it can be a real godsend when you're thinking about either buying a new house or refinancing
it.
Now, let's say some person has offered us $120 for our old home.
We still owe $80 on it.
And we figure this is how much we'd have left to put into a new house.
Now that would leave us $31,000 to start with on a new home.
We've seen a great little place that's a steal for $140.
Let's find out what that does to our monthly budget.
We would need, and we make it by the skin of our teeth.
Ah, we have $500 left over for housewarming party.
Terrific.
But now let's see what this does to our monthly mortgage payment.
Just put in the figures.
The computer does all the rest.
Ah, an extra $550 a month.
Now, come to think of it, I kind of like it where we are.
You'd better.
Of course, the spreadsheet will help us calculate a new monthly payment if we're able to knock
the seller down by, oh, $10,000 or so and get a better rate from the bank.
All you have to do is ask it.
You can use a spreadsheet type of program to figure out the cost of buying a new car.
And you could keep a very accurate record of car expenses.
But if you're a car buff, you can really have fun.
Steve has always had a strange idea of fun.
Now I can keep my records two ways.
The first is a simple record of maintenance.
Now if you ever come to selling your car, you can just punch up this program, push the
print button, and show that to the dealer.
He'll be very impressed.
The second way is even smarter.
Let's suppose I want to check up on my oil filter.
Now the computer will go through the master list and show me all the dates and mileage
is connected with the oil filter only.
It'll even tell me what I'm due for another change.
Steve, please tell me you're finished with cars.
I'm finished with cars.
Good.
Income tax, your favorite and mine.
Unfortunately, the computer won't pay your taxes for you.
I see this is a big drawback.
However, it will tell you how much you owe.
You can keep a record of your tax deductible expenses as you go through the year.
And then come April 15th, no more sitting for days wading through piles of receipts.
With the tax software available now, you can enter your total deductions on this, a schedule
A.
Once you've done that, you can go straight to the good old 1040.
Isn't that a sight for sore eyes?
The personal income tax software will not only calculate all the figures for you, but
also give you the coup de gras.
Ouch.
Well, it may be painful, but it's also accurate and a lot less panic come tax time.
It also saves you a goodly amount with your accountant if you still need one.
Just print this off and hand it to him.
It's going to take a lot of gall for him to charge you the same he did last year.
However, a word of warning, tax schedules change so fast as we all know.
So if you go and buy this piece of software, make sure you have this year's program because
it's no use getting last year's at a discount if you end up being audited or thrown in
jail.
Or you may find your 1040 will get you 10 to 40 years.
You have a way with words.
Get away with those words.
Thank you.
You can keep a beady eye on your investments very easily.
There are the standard ways, of course, using the spreadsheet software packages.
However, there is a piece of software which can be applied to all kinds of uses like investments.
Now, if you're like me, this is asking too much.
And numbers don't tell you a great deal.
Graphics would be a perfect way to show you how your stocks are doing over any given period
of time.
See how they started to rise during the French cat show, then dipped while the missile crisis
was on, and finally leveled out?
Well, sir, I can also take an overview for three months, a year, as long as I want.
Now, suppose you also have shares in another company.
You can compare yield percentages to see which is doing better.
In my considered opinion, Jane, we should junk IJF.
I'm with you.
But you can see how a picture of the activity really helps to clarify the situation.
You could do the same with commodities, options, whatever your investment portfolio happens
to be bulging with.
And chances are it'll bulge even more with one of these to assist you.
And we've just touched on the potential of investment type software.
It's as limitless as your needs and your imagination.
Now, we've illustrated this section because we wanted to show you how useful graphics
can be in certain areas.
Of course, most of the things we've mentioned in this financial section can be applied to
small business.
In fact, when it comes to problems such as inventory control, accounts receivable, taxes,
and the like, everything you've seen can be adapted to the small businessman's...
Small business person's...
Very good point.
Small business person's needs.
A lot of women are starting up lucrative businesses out of the home, and a home computer can take
a lot of the drudgery out.
Mm-hmm.
Leaving you more time for the fun stuff like washing dishes, sewing, baking pies.
Do they have a computer that'll scrub floors?
Not yet.
Jane and I are both football fans.
Now, with our home computer, we can keep track of the leagues, our favorite teams, favorite
players.
You can be your own Howard Cassell in a way.
Would you want to be your own Howard Cassell?
No, no, Jane, it's not nice.
Without an umbra of skepticism, my dear.
By now, you'll probably be aware of the fun you can have fooling around with Herschel
Walker's touchdowns, Fernando's pitching average, or Joe Montana's percentage of accuracy.
However, there's another sporting use to which you can put your computer.
It's also an excellent demonstration of the use of graphics.
Now, if I were a betting man...
We're supposing again, are we?
Yes, you know, Jane, I'm pure as the driven snow.
It's pure supposition.
Now, this graph plots the points scored by my favorite team, the Bakersfield Bashers,
so far this season.
Now, this Sunday, they're up against their arch rivals, the Sacramento Savages.
Let's put in another graph of how the Savages have done this year.
Hmm.
I wouldn't like to place a bet on that either way.
They're pretty even.
How have they performed against each other in the past?
Good idea.
Hmm.
Still too close to call.
Let's try their record against the Savages over the past three years.
Nothing there either.
Steve.
Let's try...
Steve.
Huh?
What is it, my dear?
The Savages are playing at Basher Stadium.
Why don't you try computing the Savages' away record against the Bashers' home record?
That's just what I was about to do.
Jane, you're a genius.
I shall definitely put my money on the Bashers.
That is, of course, supposing I were betting on the game.
With a computer in your grasp, your ingenuity can be realized before your very eyes.
If you travel a lot, on business or pleasure, a computer can save you time and money.
And also make sure you get the most out of your trip.
Now, let's say I'm planning a trip to San Francisco.
All right, you're planning a trip to San Francisco.
Yes, I am.
By feeding the computer this information, it can tell me the best route according to
my needs.
Well, now, I've been to San Francisco before, so let's say I don't want to waste time with
scenery this time around.
However, I don't want to spend all those big bucks on an airplane ticket.
So you want to know what is the quickest route for less than $48, right?
Okay, right.
Now, I want to go a scenic route, but I'm prepared to compromise.
That's very nice of you, Jane.
You're a nice person.
So too.
Anyway, let's ask what would be the quickest scenic route and to hell with the cost.
Oh, what a man.
So, we catch a bus to Fresno for the most scenic part of the trip and then take a train
into San Francisco.
Very good solution.
All right.
Anyway, that was a simple example of the travel problems a computer can help you solve.
Now, you're touring France.
Ah, Paris.
Your left bank, your right bank.
And how about the bank right here at home?
How are you going to budget this trip?
By now, you'll be able to see how this tool can take all your hotel and transportation
problems and give you the best trip and the best value.
You could probably pay for the computer with the money you save.
Well, Steve, that just about wraps up the spreadsheet section.
Good.
I'm tired of being in the red.
Uh, it's because you're in Mexico city.
Uh, well, my sister, who lives in Mexico City,oughing out on her wedding, surfing
When was the last time we had a fun?
Never mind.
And all of a sudden you say, oh, wow, we forgot to lock the garage.
Or worse.
Did we forget to lock the garage?
From your very own car with your very own scrambler code, you can not only make sure
the garage is locked, but also any other door or window in the house.
The heating system?
The lights?
The oven.
Your wish is the computer's command.
And I think that kind of peace of mind is worth the initial outlay.
Me too.
By tying in your heating and cooling systems to the computer, you're not going to waste
energy.
And think what a difference that will make to your monthly bills.
You can even give instructions for it to switch off the heat to a particular room when it
detects there's nobody in there.
Mm-hmm.
It can take over control of fire, smoke, and burglar alarms.
But it won't polish the furniture, huh?
Well, not yet.
They'll think of something.
I guess so.
Another word, modem.
As in modem lawns?
As in M for moron, O for oaf, D for dunce, E for error, and M for murk less.
All right.
I know what you mean.
Modem, the device that changes the electronic impulses in the computer into sounds that
can be carried over a telephone line.
That modem?
Uh-huh.
The very same.
Now, modems aren't cheap.
Mm-hmm.
Two to three hundred dollars.
But if you saw the movie War Games, you've already seen their potential.
They enable you to communicate with other computers and computer users over a telephone
link.
Our users are expanding as we speak.
You can play chess with Uncle Charlie in Florida.
Keep tabs on the stock market.
For a monthly fee, you can get access to all kinds of informational services.
Many banks now have the facility to let you punch up your own statement any time you want.
You want to be able to read the Jerusalem Post or the London Times first thing in the
morning?
Well, you can do it now without leaving your house.
For busy travelers, a great service is now available.
Have you seen one of these?
It's an airline guide.
It's so heavy that if they ever actually put it on board a plane, it would probably never
take off.
But for a small payment each month, you can now throw it away.
The service gives you access to airline schedules, seat availability.
You can even book your own ticket.
But you still have to pay for it.
Afraid so.
Yeah.
I knew there'd be a catch.
A database is computer ease for lists of things to which the computer has access and which
it can sort in almost any manner.
If a lot of people have access to the information from different computers in different places,
then it's called a data bank.
Makes sense.
There are perhaps more uses for a home computer using a database software program than any
other.
Right.
New ones are being thought up every day.
That's right.
When you have a home computer, you're talking about having your own personal infallible
secretary.
Who's always on time.
Never quits in the house.
And doesn't like taking dictation on your knee.
I love it.
Here's a tipping of day for me.
I think I'll stay in bed.
I've also told the computer to remind me to make these calls.
And who is Lola LaGrange?
Of course, if I wanted to, I could tell the computer not to display this personal reminder,
unless it was prefixed by a code known only to me.
If you wanted to.
Yes.
But Jane and I have no secrets from each other.
Lola LaGrange, sweetheart, is our plumber.
Oh, of course.
This reminder is a combination of things Steve has put into the computer's memory and information
the computer already had stored away.
Like Ann Curtrard's birthday.
And Lola LaGrange.
This particular program really can be a lifesaver for somebody as busy as I am.
And of course, it can reschedule your whole day should an emergency or a cancellation
arise.
As has been known to happen now and again.
There are any number of ways a computer can help you in the kitchen.
Not by scrubbing floors and that sort of thing.
It can do more than just store recipes.
The Smiths, let's say, have been to our place for dinner several times and they always reciprocate.
Now, Madeline Smith is a very fussy eater and she's always wearing something new.
And here's how the computer helps out.
Now this is almost a year ago and I don't think Madeline's memory stretches back any
farther than that.
When was the next time?
And so we'd continue until I've decided what not to wear and what not to cook.
Now come the big decisions.
I think I'll wear the silver pantsuit.
Oh, George will love it.
I'm not sure about Madeline.
And then I've been wanting to try cacciocho.
Do you wear that or eat it?
It's Italian seafood stew.
Did you say seafood?
Uh-huh.
Halibut, cod, scallops.
Scallops?
Scallops, Madeline, allergy.
I'll do meatloaf.
But Madeline does not eat red meat.
Chicken loaf?
Sounds good.
Anyway, three days later when we've decided on a menu, the computer will store it all
for us.
Wine?
An unpretentious little pu'er se?
Perfect.
If you have an extensive wine cellar, you can keep a record of that too, of course.
And it's all there in the machine's memory when you need to refer to it.
When you have a computer, you never need to overbuy or worse have guests sitting at the
table and you discover that there isn't enough to go around.
Let's suppose we've invited the Los Angeles Philharmonic for a brunch.
All 80 of them.
This is suppose.
Oh yes, absolutely.
In that case, I'll give them crab meat quiche.
First of all, I access the recipe.
Now in order to feed the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Plus you and me.
I simply tell the computer to display the same recipe for 82 people with the help of
a spreadsheet.
Uh-huh.
And this will save a lot of time adding up three teaspoons of butter, two eggs, six cups
of sugar and so on.
Computers are certainly thorough.
And they certainly save a lot of time.
In Steve's pre-computer days, he could never find a phone number.
That's not exactly right, Jane.
I had a little black book.
The only thing was I always forgot to put the numbers in it.
He'd jot numbers down on a piece of paper and then hunt through the wastebasket for
20 minutes trying to find it.
Then I'd look through my desk.
And he'd go through all his books to see if he'd use the scrap as a bookmark.
But now with my computerized database, all I have to do is punch in the name.
Let's see now.
How about Ron Rascal?
An old high school buddy of Jane's.
Here's Ron's phone number, address, family details, birthday, everything.
Now on Jane's birthday, Ron gave her an awful plastic statue of Boy George.
Ron will live to regret that because it's there on the computer.
When his birthday comes around, we'll just check his file and send him a plastic statue
of Ronald Reagan.
The difference between a database and Steve's wastebasket is that once he puts the information
in the basket, he has to hunt through it to find it again.
But with a database, the computer does the looking.
You can have cards on all your friends and the people you do business with.
By punching in the right instructions, I can ask for a list of birthdays and anniversaries
coming up in any given month.
And that of course can be cross-referenced to the calendar.
There's a huge variety of applications for this one database.
Sending out Christmas cards can be a nightmare.
However, I can code everyone in the personal index file.
You can send Christmas cards only to those people who sent you one last year.
Or you could simply send cards to those folks you flag with a special instruction.
And just like all the birthdays in July, the computer will come up with your list for you.
With the right printer, you can even get a print out of the mailing addresses right on
these adhesive labels.
Voila!
But it won't make the stamps for you.
Everyone's always telling you, you should keep a list of your property for insurance
purposes.
And with a home computer around your house, it becomes much less of a hassle.
These are the major entertainment items in our home.
We've included the serial numbers of course for identification purposes.
If we added a new VCR in the bedroom, we could just enter it into the inventory.
There is one drawback to the system, however.
Oh really, what's that?
If a burglar steals your computer, you're in big trouble.
Oh yeah, of course.
Well actually, you can have your floppy disks in the icebox.
They're under your arm someplace.
When there's a baby around the house, a computer not only saves you time, but it also eliminates
a lot of worry.
It almost becomes a grandmother.
Almost.
You can keep a record of the child's growth.
This is Suzanne's growth over her first two years.
It's more accurate than keeping the old pencil mark on the wall.
And this is the same idea applied to her weight.
You can adapt that program to just about anything you want.
Dress size, illnesses, first words, you name it.
All right, how about feeding?
Glad you asked.
Suzanne hasn't been quite up to par, so the doctors recommended a couple of medicines
and very strict times for them to be administered.
Now here's an added bonus.
Let's say you want to go out for a couple of hours.
Well, you just tell the computer to print up Suzanne's feeding chart.
Just before you leave, hand this to the babysitter.
There could be no mistakes.
We're all much more health conscious these days, I'm glad to say.
But what with weightlifting, aerobics, jogging, and racquetball, it seems like everyone is
killing themselves to keep fit.
In other words, you can overdo it.
With your trusty computer at your side, you can arrive at your fullest potential without
arriving at the hospital.
This program keeps track of my weight by days, weeks, or months, whatever you choose.
The increase in May was when you opened the International Restaurant Owners Convention.
Oh yes, I should have just spoken and left town.
Anyway, let's see if the computer bears that out.
Now let's put a comparison chart of my caloric intake up against these monthly weight figures.
Now if I've been faithfully entering my eating habits into the computer.
And not cheating.
Uh huh.
Yep, yep, there it is.
I can spot just where I went wrong.
Now I need some help to do something about it.
This is a calorie chart.
It also contains information on sodium, fat, and cholesterol content for people who need
to watch those.
Now by combining this database with the spreadsheet program, I can see exactly how many calories
I've consumed in a day.
Let's see here, for breakfast I had two slices of toast, six ounces of grapefruit juice,
two teaspoons of marmalade, and one teaspoon of butter.
And when he's finished the whole day, he gets the bad news.
Cross your fingers.
Oh dear.
Well back to the salt mines.
But this program, and I think I hate it, will also tell me based on my past record exactly
how much weight I would put on if I continued to eat at that rate.
And it can suggest diet plans.
Uh huh, don't I know.
And you can keep track of your exercise program.
The computer can measure your achievement against a standard for your age, height, and
weight.
That way you can be careful not to over tax yourself.
Well we can leave that to the IRS.
Now we're planning a trip with our family to Yosemite National Park.
We have a campus so it's very important for us to know exactly what we can expect when
we get there.
Now Yosemite has lots of marvelous things, but I really wanted to go boating this weekend.
They have boating facilities, but we don't have a boat.
So let's see if there's anywhere close to Yosemite, say within 50 miles, that does have
boat rentals.
Now we're talking.
But there are no bicycle trails, and the kids wanted to take their bikes.
So we'd continue until the computer fund somewhere we could all have fun.
You could use this program for something as simple as a weekend in Yosemite.
Or the grand tour of Europe.
That's not so simple.
The wonderful thing about a home computer is that it's a source of instruction and
entertainment for the entire family.
And we're not just talking about children here.
I've gone back to school as it were.
There were educational programs available at any level of learning.
Up until a month ago, the only Spanish I knew for sure was I'll have a taco and a strawberry
margarita.
Now Steve speaks Spanish like a native.
Bonjour Madame.
But in all stupidity, I have found the Spanish program very instructive and entertaining.
Now let's see.
What's my first name?
Okay.
So we type in S-T-E-V-E.
Are you ready to begin?
Uh huh.
Let's throw caution to the winds here.
Y-E-S.
I see.
It's a true or false quiz.
Some Spanish lines begin with punctuation that English does not make.
Well.
That's true.
Great.
You're batting a thousand.
Alright.
What's next?
K means who?
True or false?
Well let's see.
There's K-P-A-S-A, K-Star, K-Mart, the Cayman Island.
I haven't a clue.
Guess.
Okay.
True.
False.
You got 50% dear.
I don't think I'll ever rival Ricardo Montalbán, but I'm getting a kick out of trying.
Say good night Steve.
Buenos noches Esteban.
It's amazing, but this incredibly sophisticated machine can be invaluable if you have a very
young child starting to learn.
There are basic programs available in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
This is a menu.
No turkey sandwich?
In computer talk a menu is simply a list of choices available to you.
So this program is what they call menu driven?
You learn fast.
What should we take?
No, no.
What would you take?
Okay.
My math is rusty anyway.
I'll try multiplication tutorial.
Flash multiplication?
That looks like fun.
Sounds dangerous.
Well why not?
Do you get points for spelling your name right?
Shh.
I'm getting nervous.
Easy, medium, hard.
Let's go in at the shallow end.
That was flash, not splash multiplication.
How many questions?
One.
Eight times one equals, my time is up.
Now you know why they call it flash multiplication.
Let's try a hard one.
Twenty five times ten is two hundred and fifty.
I'm right.
Let's see how you did.
Jane, you need more practice.
The nerve!
This from a woman will come home with four cans and a six pack.
Oh, math is just not my strongest subject.
Yeah, mine neither.
But learning does seem a lot more effective than when I was growing up.
How did you learn basic math in those days?
One brontosaurus, two brontosaurus, three brontosaurus, three of those.
This is an example of the variety of educational software you can get.
This one is an advanced program.
Oh goodness.
Why don't we try chemistry six?
How do you know which is which?
Well, the program comes with a sheet of instructions.
So it does.
I think we're a little out of our depth here, Jane.
Well now, just think of yourself like Isaac Newton breaking new frontiers.
All right, let's bite the bullet.
What's a knuckle?
Well, that much I do know.
It's sodium chloride, common salt.
So what's its molecular weight, oh brain of Burbank?
I haven't got a clue.
Let's ask the machine for a hint.
That's not much of a hint.
This machine is probably the one who started the room of the Japanese bomb Pearl Bailey.
Let's just take a wild guess.
That was very embarrassing.
But you get the general idea.
A program like this would be invaluable and understandable for a chemistry student.
Science one.
This is a program we can all understand.
Now I've accessed the metric section of this program.
So let's ask the computer to convert pounds into kilograms.
Oh, good.
This will come in useful when I buy French beans.
All right.
Five pounds of French beans equals 2.268 kilograms.
Another?
Sure.
Try gallons into liters.
That always confuses me.
Okay.
So we need to know how many liters there are in a fill up, which in my car is 17 gallons.
Good.
I'll never feel ripped off at the gas pump again.
The metric section is just one part of the science one program.
And there are literally hundreds of educational software packages available.
If you want it, chances are somebody somewhere is selling it.
If you're this far into computers, chances are you already know about Pac-Man and the
like.
But there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of by Atari.
We've improved our bridge game with a clever piece of software where the computer holds
three hands and you play the fourth.
Uh-huh, you bid and play as you would normally, except you're playing opposite a master who
knows all the right moves.
And we'll tell you when you make a wrong one.
And while we're on card games...
This is hardly educational.
I don't know.
Playing blackjack against this wizard is great practice for the real thing.
Do we want instructions?
Nah.
New deck.
Let's bet 10 bucks.
Four and an ace.
Hit it, Steve.
A seven.
Now we have to hit again.
And we bust.
That was $10.
I don't worry, we'll be paid a huge sum to do this cassette.
We won't need to work again until next week and it's only Friday.
Okay, let me try.
16.
Hmm, well, it's only money.
Hit me.
Goodbye, sweet Jane.
One more shot.
Addictive, isn't it?
Sure is.
Eight and an ace.
I think we should stay.
Ah, the islands never stay.
Except together.
See?
A seven.
Steve, don't do it again.
Do computers take checks?
And let that be a lesson to you.
And I say it was educational?
Of course there are more intellectual games available such as chess, backgammon, Star Trek.
Word processing.
You hear that term being bandied about everywhere these days.
The reason is that it's an incredibly powerful tool for storing, editing, and manipulating
words.
But don't get us wrong.
A lot of folks think all they have to do is buy one of these spanking new intelligent
machines and then stick in a dictionary somehow.
The computer processes the words and you got a number one bestseller.
It doesn't work like that.
You still have to do the writing yourself.
I've got a lot of books to wade through for a novel I'm writing.
Now it's more than likely that there will only be bits of information in each that I
will actually use.
The computer won't read the books for Jane of course, but it will remember the parts
that she'll need.
And it can do it in two ways.
Let's say I need some background on the French Revolution.
Well, as I'm plowing through all these books, I enter the interesting pages into the computer.
And when I need that specific information, I simply use a database to instruct the computer
to cough up the list of books on the French Revolution.
Here they are.
Now here's the beautiful part.
She needs to know more about the French attitude to the U.S. at that time.
I see the book that contains that information and here it is.
Everything's neatly ordered in one place and for me, when my information is organized,
so are my thoughts.
The system can be a godsend for the student as well.
By putting into the computer those essential details he'll need, he doesn't have to cram
through a whole book before an exam.
I have here the little lifesaver for writers, a word processing disk.
I put this, oops, sorry, I put disk drive.
There we are.
Then I put my piece of writing in disk drive and there we are.
This is a menu.
Now, we want to write some more so we tell it, we want to finish the letter to Uncle
Harry that I started this morning.
The machine takes a second or two to load that letter into its memory and then there
it is.
Not bad, but how come you spelt my name wrong three times?
Oh, so I did, sorry.
Must have been a slip of the disk.
But with this machine, all I have to do is correct it in one place and it'll do the work
for me all the way through the letter.
Thank you, dear, but you also typed two words together, have been in the middle of the last
paragraph.
Easily fixed.
I'll just move the cursor up to that point and there you are.
And it automatically re-spaces as well.
Oh, one more thing, Steve, I hate to tell you this, but Uncle Harry and Uncle Bob don't
speak to each other.
I think you should take out the line about us all having lunch together.
Oh, yeah, well, okay, no problem.
Anything else?
Not a thing that I can see.
And that's a very simple example of word processing.
You can change things, move things, delete things.
It takes the drudgery out of writing and leaves just the creative part.
Steve, did you run that letter you wrote to Uncle Harry through the speller?
No need, Jane.
I'm a very good speller.
The letter was perfect.
Well, how about doing it for the folks who are watching?
Well, okay, but you won't find anything.
There is software available for making sure you haven't misspelled anything.
I just put it in disk drive A, and as you can see, there are no...
Pardon?
Oh, well, isn't that how you spell partridge?
I think there's a D in there somewhere.
You know, you're right.
For those of you who can't spell very well...
Like me.
A speller is invaluable.
It'll cross-check 40,000 words for you, and if that isn't impressive enough, some word
processing programs also provide you with a word count.
How many times you use a certain word in the course of an essay, for example?
It's a very useful feature for people who tend to repeat themselves.
Yes, repeat themselves.
Some people do repeat themselves.
They go on and on repeating themselves over and over and over.
In fact, there are so many different features available.
Just make sure you buy only what you need and what you can learn easily.
I can tell you, since I acquired a word processor, I've saved a small fortune in liquid paper
and erasers.
And as we all know, Steve writes music.
As a matter of fact, he's in the Guinness Book of World Records for having written more
music than anyone else.
Yeah, I've been known to string a few notes to you.
Musicians are only just beginning to appreciate the immense potential of a computer in composing
music.
But when it comes to lyrics, my rhyming dictionary program is in use all the time.
It's been worth its weight in gold.
Today I'm writing a song and I'm in the last line of a verse and have to come up with a
rhyme for sensible.
That's tough.
Not with this little program, it isn't.
I don't even know what some of those words mean.
Then use your dictionary program.
Wait.
How's this?
Computers are so sensible, they're also indispensable.
Nice beat.
Thank you.
Rotten lyric.
Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Steve and I really hope we've succeeded in easing you into the computer race by showing
you that a home computer can be an ally rather than an enemy.
Just remember, a computer is only as good as its information.
You give it that information.
You're a servant to command.
Making progress with computers is like a marriage.
The best marriages are when two people communicate.
The more you become familiar with your computer, the better you'll be able to communicate and
the better it'll serve you.
It's a fascinating world and I guarantee you'll get hooked just as we did.
The entire industry is exploding now at an incredible rate and we're really all very
lucky that it's happening in our lifetime.
Steve and I hope you enjoy your new home computer.
Right, and thank you for watching.