Computer Chooses Christmas Gifts

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 2

Computer Chooses Christmas Gifts

Choosing Christmas gifts for the family is not really difficult. But really frustrating is buying relatively inexpensive presents for friends and relatives.

This is a time-consuming task which most people leave until the last minute before rushing into a shop and buying the nearest object to hand. Too often it is something put into a bottom drawer and forgotten by the recipient

However, a Christchurch store has installed a computer which removes all the worry from Christmas gift buying. All a shopper has to do is fill in a form with the sex and age of the recipient and amount of money the buyer wants to spend and the computer does the rest by handing out a range of gift suggestions.

Whether you have only one problem or 1700, the computer can cope. It provides an answer whether you want to spend 2s 6d or £2O. For 2s 6d to be spent on a little girl not yet five, the computer suggests a pair of sun glasses. If she is constructive, perhaps a ditch digger at 29s lid could be the answer.

Clip-on elastic braces at 3s lid might come in handy for a small boy or perhaps he would like a loop tie for 5s lid. The computer can suggest clothes, cosmetics, toiletries, toys, sweets and jewellery, electrical appliances, china and glass.