28 Facts About PLATO IV

PLATO IV was the first generalized computer-assisted instruction system.

Many modern concepts in multi-user computing were originally developed on PLATO IV, including forums, message boards, online testing, e-mail, chat rooms, picture languages, instant messaging, remote screen sharing, and multiplayer video games.

PLATO IV was designed and built by the University of Illinois and functioned for four decades, offering coursework to UIUC students, local schools, prison inmates, and other universities.

PLATO IV nevertheless built a strong following in certain markets, and the last production PLATO IV system was in use until 2006.

PLATO IV was either the first or an earlier example of many now-common technologies:.

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Bitzer, regarded as the Father of PLATO IV, recognized that in order to provide quality computer-based education, good graphics were critical.

PLATO IV system was re-designed, between 1963 and 1969; PLATO IV III allowed "anyone" to design new lesson modules using their TUTOR programming language, conceived in 1967 by biology graduate student Paul Tenczar.

In 1972, with the introduction of PLATO IV, Bitzer declared general success, claiming that the goal of generalized computer instruction was now available to all.

PLATO IV offered a solution by providing higher education to segments of the population that would otherwise never be able to afford a university education.

In 1974, PLATO IV was running on in-house machines at CDC headquarters in Minneapolis, and in 1976, they purchased the commercial rights in exchange for a new CDC Cyber machine.

PLATO IV was, therefore, a failure as a profitable commercial enterprise, although it did find some use in large companies and government agencies willing to invest in the technology.

An attempt to mass-market the PLATO IV system was introduced in 1980 as Micro-PLATO IV, which ran the basic TUTOR system on a CDC "Viking-721" terminal and various home computers.

Micro-PLATO IV could be used stand-alone for normal courses, or could connect to a CDC data center for multiuser programs.

Norris continued to praise PLATO IV, announcing that it would be only a few years before it represented a major source of income for CDC as late as 1984.

PLATO IV later claimed that Micro-PLATO was one of the reasons PLATO got off-track.

PLATO IV felt that it was a waste of time anyway, as the system's value was in its online nature, which Micro-PLATO lacked initially.

PLATO IV's games became so popular that a program called "The Enforcer" was written to run as a background process to regulate or disable game play at most sites and times – a precursor to parental-style control systems that regulate access based on content rather than security considerations.

PLATO IV courseware covers a full range of high-school and college courses, as well as topics such as reading skills, family planning, Lamaze training and home budgeting.

In 1969, G David Peters began researching the feasibility of using PLATO to teach trumpet students to play with increased pitch and rhythmic precision.

PLATO IV's surveyed audio hardware that could interface with a computer system.

Many alumni of the University of Illinois School of Music PLATO IV Project gained early hands-on experience in computing and media technologies and moved into influential positions in both education and the private sector.

One of CDC's greatest commercial successes with PLATO IV was an online testing system developed for National Association of Securities Dealers, a private-sector regulator of the US securities markets.

In 2000 TRO changed their name to PLATO IV Learning and continue to sell and service PLATO IV courseware running on PCs.

In late 2012, PLATO IV Learning brought its online learning solutions to market under the name Edmentum.

University of Illinois continued development of PLATO IV, eventually setting up a commercial on-line service called NovaNET in partnership with University Communications, Inc CERL was closed in 1994, with the maintenance of the PLATO IV code passing to UCI.

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Many of the Madadeni students, most of whom came from very rural areas, the PLATO IV terminal was the first time they encountered any kind of electronic technology.

PLATO IV was used fairly extensively in South Africa for industrial training.

PLATO IV software used on Cyber1 is the final release of CYBIS, by permission of VCampus.