The evolving role of computers in society is illuminated by this 1984 news segment. This Eyewitness News report looks at the plummeting sales of home computers compared to the initial marketing frenzy, when the computer was portrayed as the next household essential.

Montages of 1980s computer models and sale signs establish that computers were widespread and available in the era, but weren’t catching on with everyday Australians. The report’s format serves as an introduction to what a computer is actually for in the lives of average consumers.

The tension of this transitory period is revealed through expert interviews with a computer scientist and a representative from the distributor Barson Computers: these devices were useful for banking, booking travel, and space operations, but small-scale uses were still lacking.

A canny benefit identified by the reporters is the use of computers as a learning tool. Shots of schoolchildren interacting naturally with computers speak to the idea that successive generations will integrate technology into their lives with greater ease. Viewed now, this foresight rings true to contemporary reality – personal computers are common and almost a necessity, rather than a baffling luxury.