======================================================================
=                        Computer_Chronicles                         =
======================================================================

                            Introduction
======================================================================
'Computer Chronicles' (also titled as 'The Computer Chronicles' from
1984 to 1989) is an American half-hour television series that was
broadcast on PBS public television from 1984 to 2002. It documented
and explored the personal computer as it grew from its infancy in the
early 80s to its rise in the global market at the turn of the 21st
century. Series creator Stewart Cheifet served as main host throughout
the show's existence.

Episodes of Computer Chronicles reviewed a variety of home and
business computers, including hardware accessories, software and other
consumer computing devices and gadgetry. Each episode ended with a
news-like segment reporting on new developments and announcements in
the computer industry. A wide range of computing topics were showcased
and demonstrated, ranging from home use, business, education, gaming,
digital music creation and editing, to networking and online
telecommunication.


                             Production
======================================================================
The series was created by Stewart Cheifet (later the show's co-host),
who was then the station manager of the College of San Mateo's KCSM-TV
(now independent non-commercial KPJK). The show was initially
broadcast as a local weekly series beginning in 1981. The show was, at
various points in its run, produced by KCSM-TV, WITF-TV in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, and KTEH in San Jose. It became a national series on PBS
in 1984, running until 2002, with Cheifet as host. From 1994 to 1997,
the show was produced by PCTV, based in New Hampshire in cooperation
with KCSM-TV. Starting in the fall of 1997 and continuing to its end,
the show was produced by KTEH San Jose and Stewart Cheifet
Productions.


                           Co-presenters
======================================================================
'Computer Chronicles' had several supporting presenters appearing
alongside Cheifet, including:
* Gary Kildall: founder of the software company Digital Research,
served as Cheifet's co-host from 1984 to 1990 (with last appearances
in Season 8 episodes 'Windows 3.0' and 'Hypertext') providing insights
and commentary on products, as well as discussions on the future of
the ever-expanding personal computer sphere. After Kildall left the
show, Cheifet would serve as solo host. Killdall died in 1994, and the
show paid tribute to him in a special episode.
* George Morrow: presenter, commentator and occasional co-host, who
for a time headed the 'Morrow Design' company. Morrow appeared on the
Chronicles from 1985 to 1988 (Seasons 3 to 5) with a one-off
appearance in 1995 on the episode 'Mobile Computing'. Morrow died in
2003.
* Paul Schindler: featured predominantly in software reviews,
Schindler contributed to the series regularly from 1984 to 1993
(Season 10) with sporadic appearances hereafter until 1999.
* Tim Bajarin: author and columnist who appeared as a co-host and
contributor regularly from 1990 until 1995 (Seasons 8 to 13) and
occasionally thereafter until 2001.
* Wendy Woods: appearing from 1985 until 1989 (Seasons 2 to 7), Woods
provided reports for many software and hardware products, as well as
talking with the main presenters in the studio about specific topics.
* Jan Lewis: former president of the Palo Alto Research Group (not to
be confused with Xerox PARC), served as a co-host and interviewee from
1985 until 1991 (Seasons 3 to 9).
*Herb Lechner: with SRI International, served as both co-host and
interviewee in some of the earliest episodes in Season 1, with a final
one-off appearance in 1986 in the episode 'Artificial Intelligence'.


                               Format
======================================================================
The 'Computer Chronicles' format remained relatively unchanged
throughout its run, except perhaps with the noticeable difference in
presenting style; originally formal, with Cheifet and the guests
wearing business suits (with neckties) customary in the professional
workplace in the early 1980s, it evolved into a more relaxed, casual
style beginning with Season 11 in 1993, with Cheifet and guests
adopting the "business casual" style of dress that the Silicon Valley
computer industry arguably helped pioneer.

The theme tune from 1984 to 1989 was "Byte by Byte" by Craig Palmer
for the Network Music Library. Beginning with Season 7 in 1989, the
opening graphics were changed, the show was renamed "Computer
Chronicles" (omitting the word "The"), and a new song was 'Zenith',
composed for OmniMusic by John Manchester, which would run until the
show's end. The graphics were redesigned again in 1995, with the "Web
page" graphics designed by Giles Bateman, and redesigned again in 1998
to show clips from the show in a "multiple window" format.

Beginning in 1984, the last five minutes or so featured 'Random
Access', a segment that gave the viewer the latest computer news from
the home and business markets. This was hosted initially by Stewart
Cheifet himself then later by other anchors: Cynthia Steele, Maria
Gabriel, Janelle Stelson, Jonell Patterson, Laurie Anderson, and
various other individuals. 'Random Access' was discontinued in 1997.

The 'Online Minute', introduced in 1995 and lasting until 1997, gave
the viewers certain Web sites that dealt with the episode's topic. It
featured Giles Bateman, who designed the show's "Web page" opening
sequence that was used from that period up until the show's end.
Another feature on the show during this time period was Stewart's
"Pick of the Week", in which he detailed a popular piece of software
or gadget on the market that appealed to him and might appeal to the
home audience.


                            Availability
======================================================================
The show ended its run in 2002. Almost all episodes of 'Computer
Chronicles' have been made available for free download at the Internet
Archive. There is also an unofficial YouTube channel with episodes.
Many episodes of the show have been dubbed into other languages,
including Arabic, French and Spanish.


                              See also
======================================================================
* 'Net Cafe', de facto spin-off of 'Computer Chronicles' co-hosted by
Cheifet that aired from 1996 to 2002
* WDR Computerclub, similar show in German TV


                           External links
======================================================================
*
*  (unofficial) channel on YouTube
*


License
=========
All content on Gopherpedia comes from Wikipedia, and is licensed under CC-BY-SA
License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Original Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Chronicles

You are viewing proxied material from gopherpedia.com. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.