Torch, Summer 1984

The Times and the Seasons by Pat Landers Dixon D addy brought it home in this huge box . In fact, he asked a friend to help him move it into the comer of the living room . My sister and I could hardly wait for them to take it out of its cardboard surroundings. We'd heard about what it could do and how much enjoyment it would provide the family . But Daddy had already given us strict rules about its use: we could not tum the dials ourselves; he had to be home for it to be on; and it was to be used only for certain hours . Little by little the newness wore off and the strictness of the rules lessened. Daddy then allowed us girls to actually touch it and move the dials (but never backward) of that I954 televison set. It was finally "user friendly ." The purchasing of the family computer seems to be the 80's answer to the 50's televison set. The questions - "Have you bought one yet? Did you hear the Joneses got their TRSH-150m yesterday? How many modalities will yours perform? Did yours come with five floppy discs?" - have replaced the simple, direct ones about the RCA . Most families have yet to buy a computer, although I do maintain that every household really has one: i.e., the wife's brain. Technicians someday will dissect the average domestic engineer' s (the housewife) brain and prove me correct. There are all kinds of information stored from what's in the back left-hand comer of the third drawer in the guest bedroom's dresser to how much the fourth child weighed at five months old. In contrast, how come a husband's depth perception is one half inch when it comes to finding his red socks in his dresser drawer? I had better stay on "track" and return to the subject of the computer. Since our family doesn't own one, I visited with a family who does . The William Stalters of Dayton, Ohio, purchased a TRS-80 color computer four years ago. Dr. Stalter is a physician and was interested in first using a computer at home before recommending one to his partners for their office use. He did the researching and shopping for it rather than have it merely as a family endeavor. The family houses the computer in the doctor's study. At this time, only he and the children use it with any degree ofregularity. Bonnie, his wife states, "I am going to learn because I realize we are in a computer literacy world . When Bill isn't home though, I don't like to use it. I'm afraid I'll do something to destroy it." Bill remarks, "I never really expected Bonnie to be eager to use it; she's such a 'people person.' She would never want to use the automatic teller at the bank but would rather go inside and talk to the teller." The children, Steve and Susan, learned how to use the computer from their father who didn't attend any classes. With just the manual which accompanied the machine, he taught himself and taught them . The various general uses range from games to word processing for school papers and letters . The doctor's major function with it is its help with income tax. There are a number of services, such as TELLENET , which enable the user to "hook up" to larger computers with more in-depth capabilities. Dr. Stalter comments, "I suppose we use the COMPUSERVE system most of all. It' s a hookup with Columbus offering a computer– ized encyclopedia. So if the kids come home needing certain information, I can get it from there quickly . And , oh yes , it also can tell you the weather and the latest sports scores , especially if OSU won or not ." "I might add , too," Bonnie continues, "that using the computer has helped our son to develop his gross motor skills: his eye-hand coordination . He is even motivated now to save money to purchase a computer for college . You know it's not taking a typewriter to college but taking a computer that is in today's high schooler's mind. " I was interested in what the family would suggest for our readers who may be thinking of buying a computer. Dr. Stalter responded, " If I were to buy one again, I'd get a system that manages the checkbook and dumps all that into the income tax information. Also , we'd attend a computer class together as a family . A family needs to discuss what programs it wants with the machine. They need to visit people who own computers and the different stores . Try several systems: the one that is the most comfortable is the one you should buy ." Both Bonnie and Bill agreed: Owning a computer is not a necessity; it's a luxury. 11