> -----Original Message----- > From: Paul Koning via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > Sent: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 7:25 PM > To: cctalk@classiccmp.org > Cc: Paul Koning <paulkon...@comcast.net> > Subject: [cctalk] Re: on the origin of home computers > > > > On Mar 8, 2023, at 2:13 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> > wrote: > > > > There is ample evidence of people doing personal computing before the > > microprocessor was invented. There was a whole terminal/time sharing > > scene in the late 60s, plus people who did personal computung by using > > the machine at a school, work, or library. There were also people > > whonowned surplussed minicomputers who used them at home. I think you > > should consider mentioning this somehow. > > > > Really, your video is about personal computers with a microprocessor > > installed. > > > > A person from the 70s would not look at computing the same as we do today. > > The larger consumer of "home computers" were doing engineering type > > work, not so much playing games. Even the apple/tandy/commodore users. > > Conversely, computer games predates home computers by a decade or so; the > PLATO system is a major source of early games, documented in several places.
Computer Games are almost as old as (Turing Complete) Computers. Alan Turing insisted that the Manchester/Ferranti MK1 had a Random Number generator. Christopher Strachey wrote a tic-tac-toe (noughts and crosses to the English) program which displayed its output in patterns on the MK1 screen. In 1951 he wrote a checkers/draughts program for the Mk1. He also wrote the "love letters" program..... .. Turing was thinking about Chess but he couldn't fit it in the MK1.... > > paul Dave
