TI Personal Problem Solver Series

The TI Personal Problem Solver Series was designed at Texas Instruments for their first personal computer in 1977.
Initial design
The Personal Problem Solver Series was initiated in May 1977 in the Professional Calculator Department under Robb Wilmot. After market studies it was to include the following applications:
* Word Processor
* Table Processor (spreadsheet)
* Data Processor
* Network (graphical point-path) Processor
* File Manager
* Communications Manager (for document transmission and receipt)
* Number Retention Calculator Sub-Mode
* Tutorial and Prompting package
* Application starter kits (document templates)
The rationale behind the development was that the TI calculator strength would be lost if not able to utilize the full strengths of the new personal computer, such as screen real estate, local memory, and calculation. The TI Commercial Computer Products Division was locked in a battle with the Consumer Products Division trying to force the latter to use only a single line computer display, and the spreadsheet facility was a tactic used by the Consumer division to gain a larger display.
One part of the system—the Data Processor—was contracted out to Microsoft to build. This contract was relatively major for Microsoft at $75,000.
After Wilmot changed positions, the new management decided in 1978 that the applications would never sell.
VisiCalc's origins?
Before the cancellation, Dan Fylstra, a soon-to-graduate Harvard Business School student, interviewed for a position as a Business Development Manager at TI. To lure Dan to TI, management decided to expose the complete TI Personal Problem Solving System business plan and design to him when he was interviewed. He appreciated the marketability due to his school studies.
Later, Fylstra, with Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston began a new project called VisiCalc. Based upon Dan's cloaked exposure of the TI design, Bricklin and Frankston refined and developed the program through their company, Software Arts. It was marketed and distributed by Personal Software (later renamed VisiCorp) beginning in 1979 for the Apple II computer. VisiCalc propelled the Apple from being a hobbyist's toy to being a much-desired, useful financial tool for business.

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