The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Page #4

and have him send

over the following list

of groceries."

All right?

Well, you wake up in the

morning, and it is raining.

And being the conscientious

and reliable young people

I know you to be,

you promptly forget to do it.

[Chuckles]

Now, well, actually,

I'm sure you would do it,

but let's see if a computer

could also do it.

[Beeping]

Now, this is a rain gauge,

and it's, uh, sitting on a roof

of a building.

Now, when the water falls

into this gauge,

it sends a signal to the logic

unit of the computer,

which immediately notifies

the memory bank of the computer

to seek out its instructions

for a rainy day.

The memory bank, in turn,

activates

the electronic circuits,

the window closes,

the door opens...

hopefully the cat comes in...

and the automatic telephone

goes into action, right?

Well, let's see.

[Beeping]

The rain... falls.

[Bangs]

Computerized male voice:

This is s recording.

Please deliver

the following groceries

to 445 Annex Street...

one pound of bacon,

two dozen eggs,

4 quarts of milk.

Hmm. Well, I...

that's enough of that.

[Light laughter]

Uh, thank you.

Thank you.

Well, so much for the speed

of the computer.

Now, another very

important feature

is its infallible memory.

Before this computer was owned

by the A.J. Arno Company,

it used to be employed

by the Space Research Center

at the Pacific Institute

of Technology.

And they were kind enough

to send us this magnetic tape,

which will call forth

from the computer

solutions to a series

of problems that would occur

on a simulated flight

to the planet Saturn.

Now, mind you,

it was 20 years ago

that this program

was operational.

20 years.

Well...

If you'll watch

the center panel, please.

[Beeping continues]

[Banging]

[Electricity crackling]

[Laughter]

Hey, Quig.

- Hey.

- [Applause]

Well, it [Sighs] seems like

our flight to Saturn

will be a little delayed.

Higgins:
[Clears throat]

Your attention, please.

This is Dean Higgins.

Now, the State General

Collegiate Classification tests

will be held tomorrow at 11:00.

Now, as many of you know,

we came in 36th last year.

And, now, I think

we could get out there

and improve upon that position.

[Chuckles] Thank you.

36th?

Gee.

You know, Dexter,

there are only 37 colleges

in the state.

Gee, I wonder

who we beat.

I don't know.

What happened,

professor?

Oh, it's a part in the logic

activator unit.

It, uh,

should be replaced,

but I can't get over to

Capital Electronics today.

Well, listen,

I'll get it for you.

Oh, I wouldn't expect

you to go all the way

over there, Dexter.

That's 70 miles away.

Oh, that's okay.

I've got nothing to do.

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