The Tandy Memorex Video Information System (VIS) is an interactive, multimedia CD-ROM player produced by the Tandy Corporation starting in 1992. It is similar in function to the Philips CD-i and Commodore CDTV systems (particularly the CDTV, since both the VIS and CDTV were adaptations of existing computer platforms and operating systems to the set-top-box design). The VIS systems were sold only at Radio Shack, under the Memorex brand, both of which Tandy owned at the time.
Modular Windows
Modular Windows is a special version of Microsoft Windows 3.1, designed to run on the Tandy Video Information System.2 Microsoft intended Modular Windows to be an embedded operating system for various devices, especially those designed to be connected to televisions. However, the VIS is the only known product that actually used this Windows version.3 It has been claimed that Microsoft created a new, incompatible version of Modular Windows ("1.1") shortly after the VIS shipped.4 No products are known to have actually used Modular Windows 1.1.
Reception
The VIS was not a successful product; by some reports Radio Shack only sold 11,000 units during the lifetime of the product.5 Radio Shack store employees jokingly referred to the VIS as "Virtually Impossible to Sell".67 Tandy discontinued the product in early 1994 and all remaining units were sold to a liquidator.
Spinoffs
- While Modular Windows was discontinued, other modular, embedded versions of Windows were later released. These include Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded.
- VIS applications could be written using tools and techniques similar to those used to write software for IBM PC compatible personal computers running Microsoft Windows.8 This concept was carried forward in the Microsoft Xbox.
Specifications
Details of the system include:9
- CPU: 80286 AMD (N80L286-12/S)
- Video System: Cirrus Logic
- Sound System: Yamaha (YMF262-M)
- Chipset: NCR Corporation
- CDROM ×2 IDE by Mitsumi
- OS: Microsoft Modular Windows
Additional details:10
- Intel 80286 processor on a local bus (not ISA) running at 12 MHz. 0-wait states. Equivalent PC performance somewhere around that of a 386SX at 16 or 20 MHz.
- 1 MB of ROM containing minimal MS-DOS 3.x, a few drivers, and Modular Windows.
- Built-in Audio CD player application.
- 1 MB of RAM in a conventional PC layout 640 KB + 384 KB.
- Mitsumi 1× (150 KB/s) CD-ROM drive with 16-bit interface, 800 ms access, 1300 ms worst case access, CD+G capable, but not Photo CD. 5000 hour MTBF.
- IR interface with up to two IR transmitters (hand controllers) operating at once.
- PS/2 mouse or keyboard interface (either can be connected and are generally recognized by applications). A wired hand controller could also be connected to this port for use in locations where the wireless controller was not practical, or could be used in conjunction with one wireless controller.
- Expansion compartment for RS-232 serial board for use with Windows debugger.
- Modem (the same modem card that went in the Tandy Sensation I) could also be installed in the VIS. 2400 data 4800 send-only FAX.
- Outputs: RCA Line left/right, composite video, RF video, S-Video. NTSC video.
- Dallas Semiconductor plug-in CyberCard - removable non-volatile storage, in sizes up to 512 KB and system comes with a 32 KB unit.
- Onboard audio is same as Tandy Sensation I: Adlib Gold compatible, not Sound Blaster compatible.
- Video uses ADAC-1 chip as found in Tandy Sensation I, supports YUV and several high-quality color modes. Also supported some TV-specific features for handling overscan.
Software
Games11
| Title | Publisher |
|---|---|
| The Adventures of Victor Vector & Yondo: Adventure No. 1 – The Vampire's Coffin | Sanctuary Woods |
| Eco Quest: Search for Cetus12 | Sierra |
| Kid-Fun | Mindplay |
| Links: The Challenge of Golf | Access Software |
| The Manhole: New and Enhanced! | Activision |
| Mosaic Magic | Kinder Magic Software |
| Mutanoid Math Challenge | Legacy Software |
| Mutanoid Word Challenge | Legacy Software |
| Our House (featuring The Family Circus) | Con•text Systems, Incorporated |
| Playing with Language: Games in English | Syracuse Language System |
| Playing with Language: Games in French | Syracuse Language System |
| Playing with Language: Games in German | Syracuse Language System |
| Playing with Language: Games in Japanese | Syracuse Language System |
| Playing with Language: Games in Spanish | Syracuse Language System |
| Race the Clock | Mindplay |
| Rick Ribbit: Adventures in Early Learning | Tadpole Productions |
| Rodney's Funscreen | Activision |
| The Secrets of Hosea Freeman | Audubon |
| Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. I | ICOM Simulations |
| Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. II | ICOM Simulations |
| SmartKids Challenge One | Arkeo |
| Talking Stepping Stones: Bonus Pack | Computeach |
Multimedia
| Title | Publisher |
|---|---|
| 1992 Time Magazine Compact Almanac, The | TIME Magazine |
| America's National Parks | Xiphias |
| American Heritage: Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary | Xiphias |
| American Vista | Applied Optical Media Corporation |
| Americans in Space | |
| Astrology Source | Multicom |
| Atlas of U.S. Presidents | Applied Optical Media Corporation |
| Better Homes and Gardens: Healthy Cooking | |
| Better Not Get Wet, Jesse Bear | |
| Bible Lands, Bible Stories | Context |
| Compton's MultiMedia Encyclopedia: VIS Edition | |
| December 24th | Macmillan New Media |
| Discis Books Multimedia: The Cask of Amontillado – Edgar Allan Poe | Discis |
| Discis Books Multimedia: The Necklace – Guy de Maupassant | Discis |
| Discis Books Multimedia: The Tell-Tale Heart – Edgar Allan Poe | Discis |
| Fitness Partner | |
| Great Lives Series: Interactive Biographies of American Heroes Vol. 1 | The JLR Group |
| Henry and Mudge: The First Book | Macmillan New Media |
| Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days | Macmillan New Media |
| Kids Can Read! A Long Hard Day at the Ranch – Audrey Nelson | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! Aesop's Fables | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! Cinderella – The Original Fairy Tale | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! Heather Hits Her First Home Run by Ted Planos | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! Moving Gives Me a Stomach Ache – Story by Heather McKend | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! Mud Puddle – Robert N. Munsch | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! Scary Poems for Rotten Kids written by Sean O Huigin | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! The Night Before Christmas – Clement C. Moore LLD | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! The Paper Bag Princess – Robert N. Munsch | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! The Tale of Benjamin Bunny – Beatrix Potter | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! The Tale of Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter | Discis |
| Kids Can Read! Thomas' Snowsuit – R. Munsch | Discis |
| Learn to Play Guitar Volume 1 | Parallax Publishing |
| The Meeting of Minds Series: Interactive Games of History, Art, Music, and Ideas | The JLR Group |
| Mercer Mayer's Just Grandma and Me | |
| Multimedia Animals Encyclopedia | Applied Optical Media Corporation |
| My Paint | |
| The New Basics Electronic Cookbook | Xiphias |
| Our House featuring The Family Circus | Context |
| Peter and the Wolf: A Multimedia Storybook | |
| Sail with Columbus | Parallax Publishing |
| Search for the Sea | |
| A Survey of Western Art: The Electronic Library of Art | |
| Time Table of History: Arts and Entertainment – 1993 Edition | Xiphias |
| Time Table of History: Business, Politics & Media – 1993 Edition | Xiphias |
| Time Table of History: Science and Innovation – 1993 Edition | Xiphias |
| Title Sampler | |
| Video Movie Guide 1993 | Ballantine Books |
| Vision: Multimedia Bible for the Entire Family | Context |
| Wild Animals! | |
| World Vista | Applied Optical Media Corporation |
References
"Hardware". The Tandy-Memorex Video Information System (VIS). Retrieved 2025-03-24. https://tandyvis.com/hardware ↩
Quinlan, Tom (September 7, 1992). "Tandy introduces multimedia format". InfoWorld. p. 30. https://books.google.com/books?id=DVEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Tandy+Video+Information+System&pg=PA30 ↩
Reinhardt, Andy (March 1994). "Building The Data High Way". BYTE Magazine. Archived from the original on December 21, 1996. https://web.archive.org/web/19961221001437/http://www.byte.com/art/9403/sec5/art1.htm ↩
Durda IV, Frank. ""10th Anniversary of the End of Tandy Computers - July 1, 1993"". comp.sys.tandy. Retrieved 1 June 2021. https://groups.google.com/g/comp.sys.tandy/c/N2kW8jkqHYo/m/tE4N_h4d73oJ ↩
"Tandy VIS". El Rincón de las FMV. Retrieved 2017-01-12. http://rfmv.org/mmc/vis_about ↩
"Hardware". The Tandy-Memorex Video Information System (VIS). Retrieved 2025-03-24. https://tandyvis.com/hardware ↩
"Tech Throwback: The Tandy Video Information System". Joe Duncan. blog post by former Radio Shack employee. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved 2017-01-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20150724035726/https://joeduncan.net/blog/2015/7/4/tech-throwback-the-tandy-video-information-system ↩
Damore, Kelley (April 12, 1993). "Toolkits facilitate writing multimedia apps". InfoWorld. p. 20. https://books.google.com/books?id=JzwEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Tandy+Video+Information+System&pg=PA20 ↩
"Tandy VIS". El Rincón de las FMV. Retrieved 2017-01-12. http://rfmv.org/mmc/vis_about ↩
"VIS Information?". 1995 Usenet post by former Tandy employee Frank Durda IV. Retrieved 2008-12-31. https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!topic/comp.sys.tandy/LGfbXF3k4Kk ↩
"Tandy VIS". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 2025-03-24. https://www.uvlist.net/platforms/detail/197-Tandy+VIS ↩
https://www.uvlist.net/platforms/games-list/197 https://www.uvlist.net/platforms/games-list/197 ↩