"Computers" 1970 Educational Film

VIDEO HERE  (11 minutes)

The film begins by showing an old adding machine (0:12). Then it shows a 100-year-old counting engine (0:18), probably designed by Charles Babbage. Modern computers including an IBM/360 model 65 (0:27). A person counting with their fingers appears on screen and the narrator states that humanity has needed to count since their beginning (1:08). Then the video shows an abacus or counting machine (1:24). Then, much older counting machines appear on screen (1:42). Then the mechanical counting machines that were invented 300 years ago are shown (2:00). A portrait of Charles Babbage is shown on screen (2:09). The film then shows the Analytical Engine, created by Babbage (2:16). An electronic circuit is shown in the palm of a person’s hand (2:37). The video zooms in to show the circuit and its wiring (2:43).  “All Computers Have Five Basic Parts” card appears on screen (3:06). The first part is an input unit (3:10). The second is a storage unit (3:17). The third is an arithmetic unit (3:20). The fourth is an output unit (3:25). Finally, the fifth is a control unit (3:36).   The section on input begins (3:42). A how to book on input is shown (3:47). The video shows a person inputting punched cards into a computer (4:10). Magnetic tape reels as an input method (4:24). A person is shown operating magnetic discs, another input method (4:33). Information can also by typed by typewriter or drawn in using a stylus or light pen (4:47) -- appears to be  CAD or similar application. Computer converts the information into electrical pulse, electrical pulse shown at (5:02).  The storage section begins (5:05).  Computer’s memory core is shown (5:22). The arithmetic unit section begins (5:26). The counting operations are shown (5:31-40). Computational board is shown with lights flickering on and off to show that computations are being done in the arithmetic unit (5:45). Diagram of where the information done via the arithmetic unit is transported (6:00).  The output section begins (6:08). High speed printer is shown printing the computers information in a form that is human readable (6:27). The output may also be printed by a computer operated typewriter (6:31). Information can also appear on a screen like that of a television screen (6:37).  The control unit section begins (6:47). Control unit directs the operations of other four units, diagram is shown of control unit directing other units (6:52).  Humans generally count on a base-10 system, video shows a square with the numbers 1-9 and 0 (7:13). Computers are electronic and use a system based on two electrical conditions “on and off”, a switch is shown (7:20). Demonstration of binary system is shown on the screen by switching lights on and off (7:33). The narrator describes how computers are so fast, they can handle inputs from many people at the same time— “timesharing”, shows a couple people performing inputs (7:57). The video shows a diagram of a computer rotating its attention amongst all of its operators (8:03).  Exterior of Hamilton High School in Los Angeles (8:15), computers as part of a school program (8:31). An  IBM 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System appears on screen at (9:02). A chemical manufacturing plant is shown, airplanes are shown being guided by air traffic controllers using computers, a satellite is shown, and workers are shown controlling the satellites from computers, computers help prepare the bills you have to pay, and narrator describes the many uses for computers (9:08-10:05).