Interact Electronics
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Ken Lochner |
| Fate | Filed for bankruptcy in 1979 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor , United States |
Key people | Ken Lochner (founder and president), Rick Barnich (designer), Tim Anderson (designer) |
| Products | Interact Model One Home Computer |
Interact Home Computer
Introduced in 1978 by Interact Electronics, Inc., headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Interact Home Computer—also referred to as The Interact Family Computer—was marketed under the name "Interact Model One Home Computer." The system was created by designers Rick Barnich and Tim Anderson. Interact Electronics operated as a privately held company, financially supported by the Detroit-based law firm Hongiman, Miller, Swartz and Cohn. The company's founder and president, Ken Lochner, played a significant role in co-developing the BASIC programming language at Dartmouth College and had previously established Cyphernetics, a prominent time-sharing enterprise acquired by ADP in 1975.
The Interact Model One was unveiled at the 1978 Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago with an initial retail price of $499. Despite its advanced capabilities for the time, only several thousand units were sold before Interact Electronics filed for bankruptcy towards the end of 1979. Most of these sales occurred through mail-order channels managed by liquidator Protecto Enterprizes from Barrington, Illinois. Additional retail outlets included Highland Appliance in Detroit, Newman Computer Exchange located in Ann Arbor, and Montgomery Ward stores in Houston.
This computer utilized an Intel 8080 CPU running at a clock speed of 2.0 MHz and came equipped with 8 KB of RAM. It featured an integrated cassette recorder for data storage and supported loading Microsoft BASIC V4.7 or EDU-BASIC from tape. The display capabilities included a text mode of 17 by 12 characters with eight color options and a graphics mode of 112 by 78 pixels in four colors. Audio output was handled by an SN76477 sound chip capable of producing one voice across four octaves.
Although primarily promoted as a gaming machine—with titles such as Showdown, Blackjack, and Chess—it also allowed users to program in BASIC. A notable application called "Message Center" enabled businesses to present scrolling messages on television screens for advertising or greeting purposes. Enthusiasts expanded its uses to include home automation control and even interfacing with vehicles like the Chevrolet Corvette.
Following the dissolution of Interact Electronics, the design rights were acquired by French firm Lambda Systems, which reintroduced the computer under the name Victor Lambda for distribution within France.
Technical specifications
- CPU: Intel i8080 running at 2.0 MHz
- Memory: 8K RAM, with options to expand to 16K or 32K
- ROM: 2K onboard plus an additional empty slot for another 2K ROM
- Keyboard: 53-key chiclet style
- Display: Text resolution of 17 x 12 characters supporting eight colors; graphics resolution of 112 x 78 pixels supporting four colors
- Sound: SN76477 chip offering one voice over four octaves
- Ports: TV output plus two joystick connectors
- Built-in cassette recorder operating at 1200 baud
- PSU: External AC transformer
- Price in 1980: US$300
References