Computer History Museum, Mt View, CA – Dr. Granville Ott, (Primary Engineer of the Texas Instruments Home Computers) – talks about the creation of the 1983 – TI 40 Home Computer

Tuesday, March 22^nd, 2011 Dr. Granville Ott will be delivering a talk about the creation of the last Home Computer from TI, the TI 40.  This computer was unique because it was one of the first portable computers to have significant computing power with a very small form and yet being battery powered.  Dr. Ott had designed the TI Home Computers so that they would be ideally adapted to home needs.  They had access to numerous games, word processing, access to encyclopedia and dictionary programs, basic business and math analysis programs, and a “planned early connection to other computers.”  The “TI Home Computer” family was set up to support home needs, very early in the computer revolution that was occurring in the late 70s and early 80s.  The last computer that the TI team was working upon was the TI 40.  This computer was a very small, relative to the era, portable due to its battery power, computer that could do many of the routine home business and math programs.  It complemented the TI 99-4A in this role giving the user the ability to do calculations while on the road or about the work place.

The story of how the TI Team was setting up to develop an evolving lineup of home computers with stand-alone units complemented by portable units at this early date is a good story of how technology vision was just slightly ahead of the time.  Of course today we all take for granted our standalone units at the house where we store all of our documents, such as digital pictures, and have our laptops available with constant contact to the internet.  We are never out of touch.  That such a vision was being developed at this early time by the TI Team is a remarkable story.  Dr. Ott will be presenting the story at the Computer History Museum in Mt. View, CA on Tuesday, March 22^nd at 11:30 AM.  If you are interested in attending this free event please contact “Inventors” at 214-733-7298 or email us at rarnold@inventors-of-america.com Attendance is free, but limited, so if you wish to come contact us early so you will have a chair at the event honoring Dr. Ott.