Produced in the early 1970s “The Ultimate Machine” is an introduction to computers that features a variety of computers, including early personal computers. At 1:27, an early mainframe computer is shown. At 1:47, a music box — a mechanical computer — is shown and a connection made to modern computer punch cards which are shown at 2:40. At 4:22, a mechanical calculator is shown and then at 4:40, a modern computer using a punch tape program is shown. At 5:13, an automated oil refinery control room is shown. 8:53, electronic music is shown being created at Bell Labs using an early synthesizer similar to those used by Robert Moog. At 10:00, an automaton is shown, and then at 10:13 a computer controlled IBM robot is shown delivering mail. At 12:02, a prototype robot rover is shown, and at 12:10 a gerbil is set loose in a machine that interacts with it. At 12:55, a man plays against a computerized chess screen that seems very similar to the one seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey. At 13:40, early computer graphics are displayed on an Adage Graphics Terminal. At 14:33, a game of pool is played using a light pen cue stick. At 18:48, a Honeywell mainframe is shown with spinning magnetic tapes. The film ends with a warning that the future may include computers being used to control the lives of many by the few.

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