1977: Bally Home Library Computer – Early E-Commerce (Sep, 1977)
“This is the story of an incredible product. So incredible that we know of no future consumer product that will have such a far-reaching technological impact on society.”
This is a ridiculously over-hyped ad for the Bally Home Library Computer, a fairly interesting if somewhat unsucsessful game console/home computer system. The $10,000 IBM 5100 computer they are constantly comparing it to was actually a full-on portable workstation with a keyboard, CRT, and tape drive that was capable of emulating an IBM mainframe. I am sure, however, that the Bally had better games.
One really interesting thing is the mention of the DIAL-A-BARGAINÂ® ORDERING SYSTEM:
“Our technicians have programmed JS&A’s main computer so you can use the Bally to access our computer directly when Bally’s dual tape decks become available. With a special module and cassette, you will be able to 1) call our computer on our toll-free number, 2) place an order, and 3) find out when it will be shipped. Since you communicate directly with our computer, your order is processed immediately and can be shipped within a few hours after receipt.”
I don’t know if they ever actually deployed this system, but if they did it would be an impressively early and complete eCommerce system.
Putting color to work in computers. (Sep, 1979)
This computer has the same display resolution as a single Mac OSX icon.
Putting color to work in computers.
Computers that present a wealth of confusing information serve only to slow the information process. At ISC. we use color graphics as a highly-effective communications medium. Why color? Research has shown that color conveys information more quickly and effectively than any other visual method. Thus, when compared to black and white a color CRT display results in faster, more accurate user response. And that means faster decisions from the ultimate processor, the human brain.
UNIVAC MAGNETIC TAPE (Jun, 1953)
Wow, this baby can hold over 120 bytes per inch!
UNIVAC MAGNETIC TAPE
saves 90% In storage and handling over punched cards
Remington Rand Univac Electronic Computers Now Make Available…
Reels of magnetic tape are utilized with remington rand electronic computer systems solving intricate computations for business, for industry, for science, for government. They operate at speeds that put facts at management’s fingertips with breathtaking rapidity. They give management today data which it formerly had to wait months to obtain.