In 1979, when I was doing a television special for PBS on the coming of the information age, titled The Information Society, my team went to Cedar Rapids Iowa and just walked into a retail computer store and started filming. This boy and his dad were there to buy a computer. He is Jay Ehrlich and today, he is doing just fine in Chicago as a corporate executive not related to his computer skills. Thank you Jay Ehrlich and your dad.
Here is the two of the in a recent interview I did - • He Looks At His 12 yr....
In 1979, the adoption of computers in schools was still in its early stages, especially at the middle and high school levels. Many schools did not yet have dedicated computer courses or curricula. However, there were some pioneering schools and educators who recognized the importance of computer education and began to incorporate it into their teaching.
The personal computers available in 1979 were typically quite large and bulky compared to today's standards. The most popular personal computers of that time included the Apple II, the TRS-80 (or Radio Shack TRS-80), and the Commodore PET. These machines typically featured a built-in keyboard, a small monochrome monitor, and used cassette tapes or floppy disks for storage. They were primarily used for basic programming, word processing, and educational purposes.
It's challenging to provide an exact number of schools teaching computers in 1979, as it varied greatly depending on location, funding, and educational priorities. However, it's safe to say that computer education was still in its infancy in most educational institutions during that time.
In 1979, programming languages taught to middle school students were typically simpler and more beginner-friendly languages compared to those taught at higher educational levels. Some of the programming languages that might have been introduced to middle school students during that time include:
BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code): BASIC was one of the most commonly used programming languages in the late 1970s and early 1980s, particularly for personal computers like the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80. It was designed to be easy to learn and understand, making it suitable for beginners.
Logo: Logo was specifically designed for educational purposes, particularly for teaching concepts of programming to children. It featured a turtle graphics system, which allowed students to create drawings and designs using simple commands.
Pascal: While Pascal was a bit more advanced than BASIC, some middle and high schools introduced it as an introductory programming language. Pascal was known for its structured programming approach and was widely used in educational settings during the late 1970s and 1980s.
Fortran: Though less common in middle schools, some institutions may have introduced Fortran, especially in more advanced or specialized programs. Fortran was primarily used for scientific and engineering applications and was less beginner-friendly compared to BASIC or Logo.
In 1979, the personal computer market was still in its early stages, and there were several notable computers available, although none were from either Apple or Microsoft, as neither the Macintosh nor Microsoft Windows had been released at that time.
Apple II: Released in 1977, the Apple II was one of the most popular personal computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It featured color graphics, sound, and expansion slots, making it a versatile platform for both home and business use.
TRS-80 (Radio Shack TRS-80): Introduced in 1977 by Radio Shack, the TRS-80 was another popular personal computer of the era. It was available in several models and configurations, including one with a built-in monitor and keyboard.
Commodore PET: Released in 1977 by Commodore International, the PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was one of the earliest personal computers on the market. It featured an all-in-one design with a built-in monitor and keyboard.
Atari 400/800: Introduced by Atari in 1979, the Atari 400 and 800 were home computers designed for gaming and educational purposes. They featured custom graphics and sound hardware and were compatible with a range of peripherals and software.
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A: Released by Texas Instruments in 1979, the TI-99/4A was a home computer with an innovative design and built-in BASIC programming language. It was popular for both gaming and educational software.
These computers ran a variety of operating systems and programming languages, but none of them were running macOS (then known as System Software for Macintosh) or Microsoft Windows, as those platforms were still in development. Instead, they typically used proprietary operating systems or variants of BASIC for programming and software development.
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