Released by BFA in 1970, “Computers” was created by Victor and Ellen Landweber. The film was apparently shot at, and had cooperation from, the Rand Corporation of Santa Monica, California. The film is notable in that it was produced roughly a decade prior to the arrival of the IBM Personal Computer, which revolutionized computing worldwide. “Computers” primarily shows mainframe and office type computers made by IBM, including the System/360 mainframe with its tape drives and hard drives. The System/360 was the first family of computers designed to cover both commercial and scientific applications and to cover a complete range of applications from small to large..

The film begins by showing an old adding machine (0:12). Then it shows a 100-year-old counting engine (0:18), probably designed by Charles Babbage. Modern computers including an IBM/360 model 65 (0:27). A person counting with their fingers appears on screen and the narrator states that humanity has needed to count since their beginning (1:08). Then the video shows an abacus or counting machine (1:24). Then, much older counting machines appear on screen (1:42). Then the mechanical counting machines that were invented 300 years ago are shown (2:00). A portrait of Charles Babbage is shown on screen (2:09). The film then shows the Analytical Engine, created by Babbage (2:16). An electronic circuit is shown in the palm of a person’s hand (2:37). The video zooms in to show the circuit and its wiring (2:43). “All Computers Have Five Basic Parts” card appears on screen (3:06). The first part is an input unit (3:10). The second is a storage unit (3:17). The third is an arithmetic unit (3:20). The fourth is an output unit (3:25). Finally, the fifth is a control unit (3:36). The section on input begins (3:42). A how to book on input is shown (3:47). The video shows a person inputting punched cards into a computer (4:10). Magnetic tape reels as an input method (4:24). A person is shown operating magnetic discs, another input method (4:33). Information can also by typed by typewriter or drawn in using a stylus or light pen (4:47) — appears to be CAD or similar application. Computer converts the information into electrical pulse, electrical pulse shown at (5:02). The storage section begins (5:05). Computer’s memory core is shown (5:22). The arithmetic unit section begins (5:26). The counting operations are shown (5:31-40). Computational board is shown with lights flickering on and off to show that computations are being done in the arithmetic unit (5:45). Diagram of where the information done via the arithmetic unit is transported (6:00). The output section begins (6:08). High speed printer is shown printing the computers information in a form that is human readable (6:27). The output may also be printed by a computer operated typewriter (6:31). Information can also appear on a screen like that of a television screen (6:37). The control unit section begins (6:47). Control unit directs the operations of other four units, diagram is shown of control unit directing other units (6:52). Humans generally count on a base-10 system, video shows a square with the numbers 1-9 and 0 (7:13). Computers are electronic and use a system based on two electrical conditions “on and off”, a switch is shown (7:20). Demonstration of binary system is shown on the screen by switching lights on and off (7:33). The narrator describes how computers are so fast, they can handle inputs from many people at the same time— “timesharing”, shows a couple people performing inputs (7:57). The video shows a diagram of a computer rotating its attention amongst all of its operators (8:03). Exterior of Hamilton High School in Los Angeles (8:15), computers as part of a school program (8:31). An IBM 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System appears on screen at (9:02). A chemical manufacturing plant is shown, airplanes are shown being guided by air traffic controllers using computers, a satellite is shown, and workers are shown controlling the satellites from computers, computers help prepare the bills you have to pay, and narrator describes the many uses for computers (9:08-10:05). Film credits give thanks to Fred and Iona Blackwell, Planning Research Corp., Fairchild Semiconductor, the London Science Museum and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com