Basic Computer Terms

Duration: 600 ft.

Year Published: 1976

Creator: Pyramid Film and Video (PYR)

Complete Record: Synopsis: Introduction to the world of computers. Uses comedy with basic computer parts and terms. Woman escorts a man through basic principles of computer technology from sending information to sending it via telephone cables(early modem-MOJO). Man, Harry, smoking cigar at typewriter, children at computers, people smiling. Man confused at typewriter. machines, man writing, looking through desk. Messy desk. Man meets computer expert, Jane. Man discusses with female expert. Cartoon animation of computers and confused man. Computer close-up. Animation of computer eating person. Transistor circuit close-up in man’s hand. Large computer systems. Cigar in hand. Walk though computer room. Man discusses with computer expert, asking lots of questions on computer functions. Man seems impressed with computers. Discussions about hardware and software. Expert shows man instructions and manual. Expert woman typing. Typing information into the computer: data. Cartoon of computer inner works: input, processing, memory and output devices. Explains all of these through flashing color cartoon. Talk about card reader, computer card, holes punched into it representing letters. Deck of computer cards, then put through card reader. Terminal and typing on keyboard. Talk about bugs in computers, man thinks they are real insects, close-up of spider on paperwork. Running of programs. Man types to tell computer what he wants to do and cartoon animation illustrates this. Processing of data, central processing units, CPU. Man is asking lots of questions regarding CPU. Expert talks about it’s multiple uses. Expert and man go to the bank and shows uses of computers there. Cartoon of computer’s memory. Talk about computer’s memory, storage capacity. CU of big disk. Talks about magnetic coding, works like tape recorder. CU pressing of different buttons. Memory library. Magnetic tapes. CU of lots of wires. Cartoon of output. Man asks questions about output. Line printer printing papers. CU of magnetic disks and tapes in hand. Typing into computer. Man and expert go to airline company and see how the computer works for them. CU of flight ticket. Man gets the hang of it all. Discuss costs. Talks about small computers with built in programs or time sharing. People typing. Wires and telephone wires. Portable terminals being used. Expert and man outside building. Man is worried and cartoon illustrates this. Computers don’t think. Einstein picture. Man typing. Paper being printed. Man says thanks to expert. Man gets a computer. Man uses a computer. Messy office. Man relaxes in his office chair, feet on desk.