VideoBrain: The Consumer Computer
By Mike Peak
Interface Age, Vol. 3, No. 2 (February 1978): 104-105


Introduction

Consumer electronics is one of the oldest industries known as "electronics." 
Consumer electronics dates as far back as the crystal receiver, and is ever 
advancing with the state of the art.

During the past three years, a new and exciting generation of consumer-oriented 
devices has been made available to the American public.  These devices have 
ranged from video games to highly sophisticated video cassette systems.  Now as 
we enter 1978, another new and innovative approach is being taken by the 
electronics industry.

The industry is now viewing the microprocessor, not only for games, but for 
viable home computing systems.  One company in particular, VideoBrain of 
Sunnyvale, California, has recently developed one of the more exciting entrants 
to the new field of consumer computers.  This new device is named the 
VideoBrain.

The VideoBrain is the first true turnkey computer system built with the general 
consumer in mind.  Built around the F8 microprocessor the VideoBrain does not 
require any computer expertise on the part of the user.

The Consumers' Interests

According to Dr. David Chung, one of the developers of the system, the 
VideoBrain was designed to fit five areas of consumer interest.

The first and most obvious is entertainment.  The VideoBrain is indeed 
entertaining.  Several off-the-shelf game programs are available with more on 
the way.  The second area is education and self-improvement.  With the 
VideoBrain the user can practice typing or learn music.  The third area is 
personal finance and data storage with hardcopy printouts.  The VideoBrain can 
be used to balance the checkbook or handle the yearly Christmas card list.  
Fourth, the system is a communication device when used with an audio coupler.  
Using the VideoBrain as a communications device, the consumer can have the 
convenience of querying large data bases, or depositing information into them, 
for use by others.  Finally, the area of home control has been addressed.  The 
system, along with the appropriate application package, can be used to handle 
the daily mundane tasks of controlling the household environment.

Both developers, Dr. Yu and Dr. Chung, feel that the personal computer, up 
until now, has been in the same class as calculators, chips, and watches.  The 
product is developed and marketed, in large volumes, without sufficient thought 
going into what the consumer really wants.  Therefore, to add viability to the 
VideoBrain, the broad spectrum of the marketplace has been addressed.  
Consequently the VideoBrain system provides something for everyone in the 
family, not just the in-house computer enthusiast.

Basic Structure

The F8 microprocessor, used in the VideoBrain, was originally designed for use 
as a controller, and consequently does not use the typical hobbyist bus 
structure.  However, the bus structure used by the VideoBrain is designed to 
allow for the addition of a network of MPUs by simply clipping them on.  As Dr. 
Chung describes it, "The machine uses both a tightly coupled and loosely 
coupled method of bus architecture.  This method of bus design gives the system 
a great deal of flexibility, when connecting it to other intelligent devices."

The system incorporates a new innovative chip, used to handle the screen 
housekeeping.  Therefore, approximately 100,000 points and 16 bright colors can 
be defined and displayed.  To relate this to conventional systems, it would 
take 100 4K RAMs, and possibly two MPUs to service the RAMs, to perform the 
same function.

The keyboard used with the system is somewhat unconventional.  However, it was 
designed only after careful consideration of what would be workable for the 
consumer, and also be cost effective.  The keyboard controls all the computer 
functions including changing the color displays.

The machine in its basic configuration comes with 1k of RAM, which allows for 
five lines of 16 characters of text.  Also included is 4k of ROM for handling 
the internal working of the machine.  The system is expandable, not by adding 
to the bus, but through the ROM cassettes.

Application Development

The area of applications, for the VideoBrain, are by far the most exciting 
thing about the machine.  The applications are designed in the same manner as 
they would be for a large system.  This requires application planning, that is, 
the need and method are previously defined.  Then the entire program 
development is handled by a programming team utilizing the best of all possible 
programming techniques.  The result is highly reliable and efficient software 
to handle the needs of the consumer.

The programs are run in the machine by popping a ROM cassette into the built-in 
reader.  Therefore, instant communication exists between the computer and the 
user.

Summary

The VideoBrain comes with a spectrum of cassette programs from games to 
personal finance.  The plan for future application development is three 
programs a month selling in the 20 to 50 dollar range, depending upon the 
complexity of the program.

The VideoBrain people have addressed the problem of add-ons and are making 
available so-called expandables.  These expandables will give the user the 
ability to interface with teletypes, printers, audio cassettes, and sensing 
devices.

The VideoBrain is designed to be the very first computer system to take full 
advantage of current technological know-how, and remove the mystery surrounding 
computers.  The VideoBrain provides for man machine interface by utilizing 
familiar objects found in the home, the color TV and telephone.  The basic 
application design provides something for everyone with the greatest emphasis 
placed on the homemaker.

[Figure 1. Block Diagram of VideoBrain]

End of Article