SO ,WHEN DID THE INTERNET FIRST TAKE AIM ON TV NEWS? FROM KRON-TV IN SAN FRANCISCO-CIRCA 1981

If you are a fan of television or you are among those confused and dazed media professionals, who used to work in a television newsroom, or those who are now re-applying for a position that you already have in a TV station, you may wonder exactly when the world changed and why you didn't get an e-mail alert about it on your blackberry.

While it may sting like a recently opened wound, this is not a new battle.The broadband beatdown of television started quietly, amid the gentle snicker of cynical broadcasters and print journalists. So, when did people tune out tv and log in to the internet ?

It started to happen more than a quarter of a century ago, in a far off galaxy called San Francisco.

This began back when cell phones were rare and weighed 5 pounds, pagers were the size of a tuna sandwich, and the new Sony Walkman offered the sound of tomorrow in your head. Cable was scarce and satellite TV was a figment of writer/scientist Arthur C. Clarke's vast and vivid imagination.America was watching Dallas, Walter Cronkite and Charlie's Angels on free, broadcast television.

Computers were what the DMV used to mess-up your driving record.

While viewership for traditional, broadcast media is,admitedly, in decline, the world wide web hasn't captured all of that available audience, yet.

Technologists talk about the development of a vaunted "convergence device" that makes a wall in your home a three dimensional, high definition, display panel for the web, first run films,television shows, search engines, virtual travel,electronically altered environments, and the bigest, most expensive family album in human history.

Yet , to date, nothing has migrated from the lab to the living room that fills the bill.

Check out this 1981, news report from KRON-TV in San Francisco ( a town that's sort of the focus group for futurists:), in which science editor Steve Newman explains why a handful of newspapers are making content available to the few people who actually own computers in their homes. Enjoy!!!!!!!





As for the use of a home computer for commerce online, below is a rare 1969 industrial film produced to show the many potential uses of an electronic processing system in your house. The device can be engaged to purchase clothes , buy food, plan menus and help you pay bills without ever leaving your room. Game show fans will note that the legendary host of The Joker is Wild, Wink Martindale, plays the father in this story that takes places just a day or so after tomorrow.Enjoy!!!!!