Digital Computer Techniques: Computer Units (1962) - AT&T Archives

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Although not produced by AT&T, Computer Units is part of the Bell Labs film library, and a resource that was utilized by Labs engineers. It was produced by the U.S. Navy as a basic primer on computers and how they worked.

Computer Units breaks down a computer's operations into: Read, Retain, Write, Execute, Calculate, which bridge the gap between input and output. The film explores the role of the peripherals and the "physical plant" of the computer: the parts that made up a 1960s-era computing unit, including separate memory modules (the wire mesh grids that comprised magnetic core memory), magnetic disk/RAM storage, and the console (ID this system, please!).

Digital Computer Techniques was a 5-part film series introduction to the essential elements of computers and computing. The series was made by Audio Productions, Inc., a company that made a lot of films for the Bell System as well. Here's what the entire series consisted of at the time:

Digital Computer Techniques: Introduction
Digital Computer Techniques: Computer Logic Part I
Digital Computer Techniques: Computer Logic Part II, Symbology (also called "Logic Element Circuits")
Digital Computer Techniques: Computer Units (this film)
Digital Computer Techniques: Programming

Footage Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ