The Computer Chronicles was a public TV series that aired on PBS. This show covered the rise of the digital age from 1983 to 2002. The show was hosted by Stewart Cheifet, who often played the "end-user" on the show being more of a layman for the technology being demonstrated. Most impressively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the co-hosts of the show were a veritable "who's who" of computer pioneers such as Digital Research Incorporated founder Gary Kildall, Morrow Design company founder George Morrow, former Xerox PARC president Jan Lewis, SRI International member Herb Lechner, and Professor and Entrepreneur Jim Warren. Other contributors to the series were Wendy Woods, Janelle Stelson, Maria Gabriel, and Paul Schindler.
The epitome of technology marches on, the Computer Chronicles covered developments in computer technology. The show started in the era of the IBM PC and debating whether microcomputers would replace minicomputers and the rise of Microsoft MS-DOS and by the time it ended the original Xbox and Microsoft Windows XP were being discussed. The show is a vertable time capsule of discussions on different standards and technologies that were important building blocks to what many of us take for granted today. Also, many episodes are still somewhat relevant today, with industry professionals discussing concepts that are still used today in more advanced forms such as hard drives, computer networking, chip manufacturing, and personal computer building.
All episodes of the show can be officially found on the Internet Archive but unofficially can be found on YouTube.
The show provides examples of:
- Digital Piracy Is Evil: Discussed in an episode aptly named "Software Piracy".
Representatives from both the software industry and a warez group cracker known only by his alias "Frankie Mouse" were present each giving their side of the story. - Viewers Like You: The show was aired on PBS, no less.
