Home · Science & Technology · Computers · Computer Invasion: A History of Automation in Canada
Topic spans: 1945 - 1993
Computer Invasion: A History of Automation in Canada
Described as "gigantic brains," computers were once so big they filled entire rooms. It all started with ENIAC, the world's first computer, that cracked and buzzed and weighed 27 tonnes. By the 1960s, ordinary Canadians were fascinated with these new high tech devices: IBMs could set up blind dates, select Christmas presents and mysteriously dispense money. A novel idea until computer technology replaced real people on the job. These days computers continue to revolutionize — this time changing the way people communicate by way of the Internet.
The U.S. army photo of the ENIAC computer is in the public domain.
7 television clips
7 radio clips
A network called 'Internet'
Broadcast Date: Oct. 8, 1993
Punctuation marks that look like smiley faces express happiness on a new communication tool known as "Internet." The computer network is already being used by 15 million people worldwide to chat or do important research. Communication may be anonymous and isolated, but there's always someone to talk to about sports, recipes or politics."In this world there's a table with a big sign on it saying football," explains a computer expert in this CBC Television clip.
There is a specific sense of community and fellowship on Internet, television reporter Bill Cameron demonstrates in a "real-time chatroom."
A network called 'Internet'
• Although the Internet didn't emerge publicly until the 1990s, an early version of the network was used by the U.S. government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).• DARPA used the telecommunication lines to link computers during the 1960s. The agency, which emerged out of Cold War fear, created the network so government had a computer system capable of resisting nuclear attack.
• Computers accelerated the sharing of information, especially by way of the Internet, which in some cases has contributed to stock market uncertainty. Constant sharing of stock tips on the Internet has led to more regular stock market crashes. One such example was the 1998 Asian Crisis.
• Symbols constructed using punctuation to express emotions, as seen in this CBC Television clip, are called "emoticons."
• These keyboard characters, in place of facial expressions, help establish a tone that can be otherwise lost or misconstrued with electronic communication. Click here for a list of examples.
A network called 'Internet'
Medium: Television
Program: Prime Time News
Broadcast Date: Oct. 8, 1993
Guest(s): John Allen
Host: Peter Mansbridge
Reporter: Bill Cameron
Duration: 6:22
Last updated:
Oct. 27, 2008
Activez le Javascript sur votre navigateur...
14 clips in this topic . page
Topic from Radio-Canada
For Teachers - Educational activities
computers · technology · suzuki · high tech · internet
A network called 'Internet'.
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: Oct. 27, 2008.
[Page consulted on July 18, 2009.]