ComputerSmarts

ComputerSmarts was a console-based computer system which was produced by Connor Electronics in 1987 for children ages 6-12. It was designed to be primarily used in conjunction with 50 minute interactive VHS tapes which would guide the user through different exercises in spelling, punctuation, typing, math, and sentence structure. The console would be connected to the television through an analog cable plugged into the Audio Out port. It featured a standard QWERTY keyboard with sets of keys color-coded to aid the user in typing exercises. It could also be used as a stand-alone console either by inserting a ROM cartridge or by selecting one of the pre-programmed games which included a music synthesizer.
Models
When first developed, the ComputerSmarts console had a flip-up LCD screen which was used to display information to the user during play. The unit was redesigned, however, so the LCD screen was part of the main unit. In the videos and some early instruction manuals, the prototype model is used.
VHS Installments
There were several VHS videos made for ComputerSmarts. Most of them were in the "Word Mystery" series. They featured two alien puppets named Beek and Rains and their teacher DJ, which was an artificially intelligent computer program who was housed inside a TV monitor. They traveled around the planet in a clubhouse which served as their spaceship and seemed to be nothing more than a cardboard box. In each installment, they would use their ComputerSmarts consoles to learn about typing, sentence structure, paragraph composition, punctuation, word types, and alphabetical order.
The videos were produced by Chicago-based Kinetics Group, Ltd., directed by J. Ried Paul, written by Rick Oliver, and featured music by Tullio and Rans Music, Mark Ohlsen and Elliot Delman. All of which are now defunct companies including the Connor Forest Industries, Inc., parent company of Connor Toy Corporation, which in turn is the parent of Connor Electronics.
ComputerSmarts Theme Music
Word Mysteries:
* Word Mystery 1: In Search of the Ultimate Sentence
* Word Mystery 2: The Plot of the Possessive Pronoun
* Word Mystery 3: The Caper of the Compounding Characters
* Word Mystery 4: The Victory of Victor Verb
Characters:
While Beek and Rains were puppets who appeared in all the videos, each installment had colorful live-action characters, most of which were portrayed by Jamie Baron. These differed in each video with a few appearing in multiple installments.

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