Electronic Office
6. Easy to Use?
Clips from this programme
Opening Titles
Duration: 00:24
An early speech recognition system is being trained at AT&T's Bell Labs. Recognising the human voice has been a big challenge. This system only recognises single words and is 'speaker dependent'
Duration: 01:47
At IBM's research labs early work on recognising handwriting and work on scanning and optical character recognition to allow a document (a 19th century copy of the Scientific American) to be read as if it has been typed in.
Duration: 06:57
Kurzweil, a Boston company has developed a reading machine for the blind and speaks it out
Duration: 00:46
At IBM research an expert system learns and checks for spelling and style errors in text
Duration: 04:05
Peter Keen of the London Business School discusses the claims for artificial intelligence and expert systems
Duration: 01:33
At Bell Labs an early map navigation system combined with a database of restaurants in New York. Predictions about the future.
Duration: 04:09
Peter Keen of the London Business School discusses ease of use. Mac on 'the drop test' for instruction manuals
Duration: 00:51
Moshe Zloof discusses his search of an easy to use integrated office system. Comments from Peter Keen of the London Business School on flexibility and ease of use. Mac concludes by saying that real ease of use is a long way away.
Duration: 04:41
End Titles
Duration: 00:29Electronic Office
1. Office on the Move
First broadcast: 12th April 1984
Duration 24:28
1: Office on the Move : The combination of ever cheaper computers and improved telecommunications has produced a quiet revolution on the desks of secretaries, clerks, middle managers and executives, sometimes for good, sometimes for ill. IAN MCNAUGHT-DAVIS. himself the director of a major computer company, begins a six-part examination of the office technology of today and tomorrow. Production MIKE COCKER and DAVID ALLEN
2. The Stand-alone Micro
First broadcast: 19th April 1984
Duration 24:44
2: The Stand-alone Micro : Most of the computers in business are being used for relatively straightforward tasks like word processing, financial planning and simple data base management. IAN MCNAUGHT-DAVIS examines these various 'stand-alone' applications in the second of six programmes about the office technology of today and tomorrow. Production MIKE COCKER and DAVID ALLEN
3. Wiring up the Organisation
First broadcast: 6th May 1984
Duration 24:41
3: Wiring up the Organisation : A microcomputer on its own can perform many useful tasks in the office but as soon as an organisation starts linking computers together into a network, its whole style of working may change dramatically, with a consequent challenge to management. In the third of six programmes IAN MCNAUGHT-DAVIS continues his examination of the office technology of today and tomorrow. Film editor JOHN DlNWOODIE Production MIKE COCKER and DAVID ALLEN
4. Changing with the Times
First broadcast: 10th May 1984
Duration 23:45
4: Changing with the Times How do modern electronic methods affect the working habits and culture of an old established daily newspaper? IAN MCNAUGHT-DAVIS finds out with the help of journalists, editors and others at the New York Times. Film editor JOHN DINWOODIE Production MIKE COCKER and DAVID ALLEN
5. Wiring up the World
First broadcast: 17th May 1984
Duration 24:25
5: Wiring up the World : The microcomputing revolution in business would mean little without the telephone network. Companies can exchange data electronically with each other and even with us, their customers, in a fraction of a second, and this is having a considerable effect on competition. Production MIKE COCKER and DAVID ALLEN
6. Easy to Use?
First broadcast: 24th May 1984
Duration 24:32
6: Easy to Use? : Computer manufacturers at present claim 'ease of use' for their machines. In reality most computers are far from easy to use. In this last programme IAN MCNAUGHT-DAVIS takes a look at some of the work being done to humanise the technology. Production MIKE COCKER and DAVID ALLEN
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