The Computer Chronicles

1–48 of 624 films, free to watch, from the world's open archives.

Where these films come from, and who sees what

Every film here plays from the archive that keeps it: the Internet Archive, Wikimedia Commons, the NASA Image and Video Library, the Library of Congress and Open Images (the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision). Nothing is copied to this site. Each film's page names its archive, links to its page there, and states its licence or status as the archive does.

Archive films carry no age ratings, so each is placed from the collections it sits in and the subjects the archive gives it, cautiously. Sexual content and nudity are left out altogether.

Little OnesFilms for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool.
KidsCartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature.
TweensDocumentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures.
TeensEverything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower.
AdultSexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage.
Internet Archive Commodore 64 TV · Subtitles The Commodore 64 was the first computer for many families. This program looks at what you can do with the famous C-64. Demonstrations include The Wine… Internet Archive The Macintosh Computer 1985 · TV · Subtitles An in-depth look at the early Apple Macintosh computer, available software and hardware add-ons. Originally broadcast in 1985. Guests: Joanna Hoffman, Apple;… Internet Archive Computer Games 1984 · TV · Subtitles Computers are creating an entirely new platform for playing games, between humans or between humans and computers. Guests: Trip Hawkins, Electronic Arts; Bill… Internet Archive Amiga and Atari 1985 · TV · Subtitles How much computer can you get at the bottom end of the market - comparison between the Commodore Amiga and the Atari 520ST. Guests: Rick Geiger, Commodore;… Internet Archive Virtual Reality 1992 · TV · Subtitles Virtual reality started out as a science fiction concept in the early 1950s. Now, VR has become a kind of holy grail - lots of promises and claims, few… Internet Archive Gary Kildall Special TV · 26 h 22 min · Subtitles A profile on computer pioneer Gary Kildall and the important contributions he made to the PC industry including the true story on how IBM ended up using… Internet Archive High Tech India - Part One 1989 · TV · Subtitles India is the hot place now for companies to look at for new software development. The trend actually started more than fifteen years ago. This is an early… Internet Archive Amiga 3000 1988 · TV · Subtitles For fans of the Commodore Amiga, the introduction of the new Amiga 3000 was big news, even though the price tag was nearly $4,000. This program looked at the… Internet Archive UNIX 1985 · TV · Subtitles AT&T's computer operating system is threatening to take over IBM's MS-DOS dominance. Guests: John Mashey, Bell Labs; Mark Sobell, Author; Bill Joy, Sun… Internet Archive Bill Gates Profile 1999 · TV · 29 h 16 min · Subtitles An up close and personal profile of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. Includes comments by John Gage, Sun Microsystems; David Kirkpatrick, Fortune Magazine; Tony… Internet Archive Wireless Technology 2001 · TV · Subtitles Wireless technology is rapidly evolving and playing an increasing role in the lives of people throughout the world. In addition, ever-larger numbers of people… Internet Archive DVD 101 1999 · TV · Subtitles New computers are coming out with DVD drives built in. Do you need a DVD drive? We'll show you why this new format is great and how you can upgrade your old… Internet Archive Japanese PC's 1985 · TV · Subtitles A review of where major Japanese technology companies are in the PC hardware and software markets. Shot in Japan. Guests: Katsuro Miyakoda, Microcomputer… Internet Archive Low End Computers 1985 · TV · Subtitles A consumer's guide to the most popular low-cost home computers. Guests: Jack Tramiel, Atari; Leonard Tramiel, Atari; Frank Leonardi, Commodore; Gary Kildall,… Internet Archive Smart TV 1995 · TV · 26 h 11 min · Subtitles As the computer and the television began to merge, we started seeing intelligent TV sets. This program looks at some examples. Demonstrations include the… Internet Archive Windows 95 1995 · TV · Subtitles It was the biggest ever launch of a software product with stores opening at midnight and buyers around the world waiting to get their hands on... an operating… Internet Archive Operating Systems 1984 · TV · Subtitles A review of competing operating systems and their affect on software development. Guests: Gary Kildall, SRI; Tony Fanning, Hewlett Packard; Jean Yates, Yates… Internet Archive Hypercard TV · 26 min · Subtitles An introduction to Apple's Hypercard. Guests include Apple Fellow and Hypercard creator Bill Atkinson, Hypercard senior engineer Dan Winkler, author of "The… Internet Archive Programming 1984 · TV · Subtitles A review of current popular programming languages. Guests: Gary Kildall, DRI; Paul Grady, Microfocus; Dave Eisenberg, Apple; Elizabeth Rather, Forth… Internet Archive Internet 1995 · TV · Subtitles In the mid 1990's many people were on line, but the internet and the world wide web were still a new phenomenon. This program looks at the new open world of… Internet Archive CD-ROM 1993 · TV · 26 h 21 min · Subtitles Multimedia was the big deal in the early 90's as software publishers rushed to use the new storage medium for bigger and more interactive programs. This show… Internet Archive High Tech India - Part Two 1989 · TV · Subtitles India is the hot place now for companies to look at for new software development. The trend actually started more than fifteen years ago. This is an early… Internet Archive Software Piracy 1985 · TV · Subtitles Meet teenage software pirates, computer lawyers and the battle over software ownership. Guests: Mark Pump, Alpha Logic; Smith McKeithen, Activision; Frankie… Internet Archive The New Amigas 1988 · TV · Subtitles Before there was a Macintosh, the Amiga was the computer for the creative community. This program looks at the Amiga 2000, the Amiga 500, Photon Video Cell… Internet Archive Windows 3.0 1990 · TV · Subtitles The first major upgrade to Windows was the 3.0 version, launched in 1990. This program reviews Windows 3.0 , some competitive products, and it looks at some… Internet Archive IBM Personal System 2 1987 · TV · Subtitles A first look at the new IBM PS2 computer and its design and interface innovations. Guests: Tony Harris, Digital Research; David Bunnell, PCW Communications;… Internet Archive Mainframes to Minis to Micros 1984 · TV · Subtitles This was the very first episode of the Computer Chronicles, originally broadcast in September 1983, covering the history and ancestry of today's PC. Guests:… Internet Archive Decision Support Systems 1984 · TV · Subtitles Expert systems software and artificial intelligence applications. Guests: Gary Kildall, DRI; Mike Thoma, Mgmt Decisn Sys; Steve Weyl, Syntelligence; Jim… Internet Archive Digital Journalism 1993 · TV · 26 h 6 min · Subtitles The digital revolution changed the practice of journalism. This program looks at how journalists are using computers and the Internet. Segments include CNN… Internet Archive Computer Chronicles - Search Engines 1996 · TV · Subtitles An early pre-Google look at search engine technology. Episode # 1404. Featured are DataQuest, Alta Vista, Zip 2, Autonomy, Pointcast, and The Angle.… Internet Archive Computer Graphics 1984 · TV · Subtitles A review of computer art, graphics capabilities of computers and professional computer graphics systems. Guests: Herb Lechner, SRI International; Don… Internet Archive MIDI Music 1992 · TV · Subtitles A look at the new role of personal computers in making music. Products demonstrated include Super Jam from Blue Ribbon Soundworks, Encore for Windows from… Internet Archive Battle of the Browsers 1997 · TV · Subtitles When Microsoft started giving away Internet Explorer, it became a serious challenger for Netscape. This program looked at the battle to become the dominant… Internet Archive Amiga 2500 1989 · TV · Subtitles A look at the new Amiga models including the Amiga 2500 and new software and peripherals for the Amiga computers. Guests: Tom Stearns, Commodore; Lou Wallace,… Internet Archive Computer Music 1984 · TV · Subtitles The computer as a creative tool used to make, display and store music. Guests: John Chowning, Stanford; Will Harvey, Electronic Arts; Ellen Lapham, Syntauri;… Internet Archive Apple II Forever TV · Subtitles Today they're called "mac heads", but way back in the 1980's, Apple users were in love with the Apple II. Despite the introduction of the Mac in 1984, the… Internet Archive Storage Devices 1984 · TV · Subtitles Floppy drives, hard drives, and bubble memory. Guests: Al Shugart, Seagate; Frank Sordello, Memorex; Gary Kildall, DRI Products/Demos: 5 ¼ inch floppy drive,… Internet Archive Spreadsheet Wars 1988 · TV · Subtitles Excel now dominates the spreadsheet world, but once upon a time there was actual competition among spreadsheet products. This program looks at Quattro 1.0,… Internet Archive Artificial Intelligence TV · Subtitles An early look at artificial Intelligence. Guests includes Edward Feigenbaum of Stanford University, Nils Nilsson of the AI Center at SRI International, Tom… Internet Archive Computer Entrepreneurs 1984 · TV · Subtitles A look at the people who are driving the personal computer industry. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Steve Wozniak, Apple; Adam Osborne, Osborne… Internet Archive Programming Languages 1999 · TV · 28 h 16 min · Subtitles A look at a variety of interesting programming languages being used for personal computers. Included are demonstrations of Microsoft's Office 2000 Developer,… Internet Archive Computer Security 1984 · TV · Subtitles Security issues related to the world's increasing dependence on information containted in computer networks. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Donn… Internet Archive Computer Games 1988 · TV · Subtitles A look at some of the leading computer games in the late 1980's. Demonstrations include Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer, Accolade's Mean 18 Golf,… Internet Archive Computer Games 1985 · TV · Subtitles A look at the newest computer games for PC users. Guests: Kathe Spracklen, Game Developer; James Zuber, Game Developer; David Crane, Activision; David… Internet Archive MIDI Music 1986 · TV · Subtitles Computers and music, MIDI machines and interfaces, and music composition software. Guests: Chris French, Music Software; Bob Moore, Hybrid Arts; David… Internet Archive Mac Clones and New O/S 1995 · TV · 25 h 14 min · Subtitles In the post Steve Jobs era, Apple started licensing other companies to produce Macintosh clones. And there was a new Mac operating system 8.0, code named… Internet Archive Computer Networks 1985 · TV · Subtitles A look at the new technology for computers communicating with other computers. Guests: Gary Kildall, Digital Research; Sherry Geddes, Strategic Inc.; Bob… Internet Archive Greatest Computer Games 1995 · TV · Subtitles A review of the best new games of the year. Games covered include In the First Degree, Buried in Time, Mech Warrior 2, ImagiNation Network, and…