(1978 -1982 )
The impact of the Birth of personal computer
had a significant impact on Brandon growing up to be a technology company.
- Brandon recognized early on how personal computers would change the world.
- Brandon invested in Radio Shack Personal Computers for use in the first computer-based control systems with Honeywell hardware.
- The use of programs like VisiCalc (the first spreadsheet), word processing and basic programming weaved its way into the fabric of Brandon.
- Installed extensive Power Line Carrier wireless control systems for large scale office buildings in Delaware, NJ, NYC, OHIO, Boston and CT.
- Recognized the need for Information systems professionals, computer scientist, programmers and engineers in the delivery of automation, energy and temperature control systems. Made strategic investment understanding how the personal computer would change the industry.
- Installed the first IBM Personal computer networked Data System with 10MB Bernoulli cartridges. Automated Brandon office billing, word processing functions.
You have heard of Lotus123 or Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets – VisiCalc was arguably the killer application in the late 1970s. The birth of the “spreadsheet”
Brandon would utilize computers in 1970 before most people ever heard the term personal computer. This would represent the birth of Brandon’s team understanding how computers would be applied in every aspect of the business.
TRS80 – Model1
Performing far better than the company projections of 3,000 units for the first year, in the first month after its release Tandy Radio Shack´s first desktop computer — the TRS-80 — sells 10,000 units. The TRS-80 was priced at $599.95, included a Z80 microprocessor, video display, 4 KB of memory, a built-in BASIC programming language interpreter, cassette storage, and easy-to-understand manuals that assumed no prior knowledge on the part of the user. The TRS-80 proved popular with schools, as well as for home use.
