The first microchip controlled computer in cinema?

grapes of gorf

I have had a VHS copy of the 1968 movie 'The Thomas Crown Affair' laying around for a couple of months. That I had never got around to watching because I didn't like the 1999 remake. Last week I finally got to see it and it's a cool movie. A dazzling amount of 'analogue adding machines' pop up in the movie. But the computer that I spotted in the attached picture is a great find. I can not identify the computer, but it is quite possible that it's microchip controlled and is the earliest computer of that type I have come across watching movies.

Q. Who cares?
A. Me because i'm a geek

retrobrad · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject:

hey thats cool!

it looks very VERY small for a computer released in 1968!!

ozzipete · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:33 am Post subject:

Maybe a set prop ?

grapes of gorf · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:01 pm Post subject:

The computer does seem small and it could be a prop. But microchips first appeared commercially in 1962 and portable calculators in the late 60's. By 1967/68, the computer in the scene could more than likely really have existed. Computers are mentioned frequently in the storyline a policeman mentions that he would enter some information into the computer. The movie is set in the 60's governments, big business and universities had access to microchip controlled computers at this time.