Computer Talk

Computer Talk

Computer Talk was a quarterly cassette magazine that ran from 1983 until 2009 for people interested in blind accessible computer technology.

David Calderwood and the VDU (Visually Disabled User) group originally produced Computer Talk until October 1988. The 90 minute tapes from this era had side A filled with spoken technology news, articles and discussion and Side B filled with software you could load into a BBC Micro.

David moved away from the BBC Micro and Computer Talk and started up The Whistler magazine (working at Dolphin Systems), more focussed on PC DOS access initially. However, Computer Talk lived on, re-starting in January 1989 under the direction of Julia and Frank Cosgrove from Newcastle for another 20 years.

This page offers up a small sample of these recordings, documenting the move away from 1980s BBC Micro era technology and Teletext into 1990s PCs, CD-Roms and the internet.

David Calderwood talks of early computer memories and setting up Computer Talk in the January 1999 edition (side 1) (taken from The Whistler).

Notes on Computer Talk

Computer Talk January 1989 side 1 & side 2
April 1989 side 1 & side 2
July 1989 side 1 & side 2
October 1989 side 1 & side 2

Computer Talk JAN 1990 side 1 & side 2
April 1990 side 1 and side 2
July 1990 side 1 and side 2
October 1990 side 1 and side 2

Computer Talk JAN 1991 side 1 & side 2
April 1991 side 1 and side 2
July 1991 side 1 and side 2
October 1991 side 1 and side 2

Computer Talk JAN 1992 side 1 & side 2
April 1992 side 1 and side 2
July 1992 side 1 and side 2
October 1992 side 1 and side 2

Computer Talk JAN 1993 side 1 & side 2
April 1993 side 1 and side 2
July 1993 side 1 and side 2
October 1993 side 1 and side 2

Computer Talk JAN 1994 side 1 & side 2
April 1994 side 1 and side 2
July 1994 side 1 and side 2
October 1994 side 1 and side 2

Computer Talk JAN 1999 side 1 & side 2
April 1999 side 1 and side 2
July 1999 side 1 and side 2
October 1999 side 1 and side 2

Computer Talk JAN 2009 side 1 & side 2
April 2009 side 1 and side 2
July 2009 side 1 and side 2
October 2009 side 1 and side 2

More Blind Accessibility Technology Links

• • • Blind Gaming accessible history.
    
    • Colin Howard archive (UK 1980s Computer Talk) - (Talking Computers) - (The Whistler).
    
    • Micro User on cassette (UK 1986).
    
    
  • • Computer Folks and Bitstream (US 1990s Talking magazine) - Dropbox mirror.
  • 
    • Microcomputer Based Aids for the Disabled (Julia Schofield - 1981). 

 

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