The Billings Computer
March 4, 2026 • EPISODE 300
Who created the first personal computer? In this episode of Science LIVE with Roger Billings, explore the history of silicon chip design and the breakthroughs that made modern computing possible. Learn about the Intel 4004, the world’s first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 800, and inventor Federico Faggin, whose work helped make the first all-in-one personal computer a reality. Discover how these early innovations paved the way for the powerful computers we use today.

About DrB
Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as “DrB” to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology.
As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »



It is amazing to see how much our technology has changed over the years.
I like how Billings made the 1 all in one personal computer.
I like 3-D printers.
Science is so neat! We have a 3d printer at home, and it was cool to learn about 3d printers!!
Tacossss
I love science lives
Thank you Acellus!
This was my 1st video, this was very interesting. This was a nice spin on learning the history of computers.
I never knew the Dr.Billings created a computer, that’s really cool! And I also like how they showed everything that was inside of his computer.
3D printing is an interesting concept!
Very interesting live! Good morning everyone!
Thank you so much for this lesson I really liked this one!
3d printers are cool!
I like the music of this video. And the campfire section is really cute! 🥰
It is so cool to see how far technology has advanced.
There’s a lot of things that can go wrong when we printing.
the protegets are sooo funny!!! thanks big B for all you do 🙂
is very nice to know about computer
Great info about the computer!
i love science live!!!!!
How long did it take for them to do it and the right time?
the history was awesome and a lot of fun
I can’t wait to learn about micro controllers
i liked the 3d printer
3D printers are so cool! I wish I had one!
Thank you so much. The history of the computer is always so interesting.
3D printers are cool
I wish i had a 3D printer.
Science is so good 😊
i loved this weeks science live
I loved this!
another great video like normal!
And the proteges strike again!
Saw them eatin- i mean investigating tacos at Taco Bell.
Loved the stuff about old computers another great stream!
It was awesome today thanks from Maine
I can’t believe it takes so many transistors to run a computer.
I really loved dr johns speech this week the 3D stuff was amazing and very cool .
Great episode! It was really neat to learn about the microprocessor! It was awesome when he put the quote on the wall! Thank you all, have a nice day!
I love science!
Awesome video!
this was so cool
3d printing is so cool
This one was cool.
The way computers have changed so much over the years and continue to constantly change, is so interesting. Makes me wonder when we’re older, what computers will look like.
I love science live.
Wow! 300th episode. So cool!
300 episodes is crazy
hi so when is the next episode of science live coming up
this live was interesting.. i really liked the highlight of technological advancements. it crazy to think that what we had 10 years ago is a whole different world than what we have now
Comment I love the new history of computers and I’m excited for what comes in the future
Where can you find those micro controllers?
3D printers are so cool, I really want one
3d printers are cool.
I love learning about computers!
Science live is so cool!
Billings computers are very cool.)
The Billings computer is a interest story.
I love science.
The jellyfish galaxy is so pretty!
It’s incredible that they can make a beam of light that precise that it can instantly make intricate objects in that resin.
R51 is so funny.
I enjoyed this video thank you!!!
so cool we are able to 3d print computers
Love this from SC
Fun fact, the ‘links’ of the starlink satellites are actually a Japanese traditional origami and a decoration. My minds a bit hazy so check this info up please.
This is cool!
Did you ever think that things would get this advanced so quickly?
I wonder if that 3D printer could make my dog. Learning about the Billings computer was so fun!
I though learning about the z80, 8080, and 4004 was nicer-51 was funny tooo
I like the Jellyfish Galaxy.
hey mr. B i am a huge fan of you and ms.p
I learned a lot of knowledge, I got educated, and now I know that I use math for a lot of stuff.
Math is my favorite subject! I have learned so much from acellus. Blink the bee is so cute!
The history of computers is always such an intriguing subject, always a joy to learn about.
same i always love learning
Love watching Science Live!!
wow 300 already!!
So amazing I love this ! I love learning about the history of computers!
Technology advances so fast.
fr 3d printers are so cool I love mine
I love watching science live every week!!!
3D printers are cool
Science live is so cool!😎
I know I love science like awesome.
300th episode!!! 🥳 I always love watching Science Live every week.
Same here it’s amazing
Jude. Science always interesting to watch especially about sharks
Yesssssss 🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️
3d printers have come so far! I honestly want a little simple one for fun!
I liked the taco computer!
its unreal how far innovation has come.
I think it is cool how much we have advanced within a 50 year period. My mother old me about when she was a child and she told me about the fact that tv’s were uncommon and just big boxes with screens, and phones were attached to the wall, now we have smart phones, computers, and 50 in. tv’s. Crazy!!!
Thanks Dr. John for the amazing news about 3d printing and how its getting a lot faster.
I love how encouraging you are to Frederico, as coming from a most brilliant man to another and his impact on computers. Just stand s out to me today!
The history of computers really helped me learn how advanced we are now! The vacuum tube computers were so weird looking but it’s cool to know that’s where computers started. All the topics covered today were so interesting.
the jellyfish galaxy was my favorite! its so beautiful and i cant believe it has taken 8.5 billion years for its light to finally reach us.
These science lives never let down! I always end up walking away from the videos with so much information. Just the evolution of computers shows how quickly things can change.
The part about computer history was really cool. I’ve heard and seen the general history of them as far as size and advancement goes, but it still is super interesting when I see or hear about it. I don’t know why, but I just think it’s really fun and interesting.
I liked where they took apart a computer. I’m going to take apart a computer.
I though learning about the z80, 8080, and 4004 was noice r-51 was funny tooo
R-51 Is the best!
I really like the protégés section! It’s so funny and makes learning easy. Loved hearing about the history of computers!
It is amazing how frederico faggin was able to come up with such revolutionary products and be able to see it’s success and live to create even more!
I really enjoyed this Science Live session. It was both fun and interesting to watch. The 3D-printed squid was especially impressive—seeing it created almost instantly felt like watching a sci-fi movie! It really showed how far printing technology has come.
R51 is hilarious; I love watching his parts
It was interesting learning about Dr billings and Frederico
Very interesting. I love you you make this content very engaging for all ages!
We’ve come really far in technology in the past 40+ years.
Very interesting to learn about computers, especially since we spend so much time on them today! Thank you!
Faggin’s Z80 computer chip and Dr. Billings computer, changed modern computer technology is such a profound way.
I love Acellus
what made you want to create a computer
Really good video
Learning how computers were in the old times and how they are now is so informing and very interesting. I loved learning about the old billings computer and seeing it get torn apart was really cool. The Jellyfish Galaxies were so beautiful and colorful. Amazing episode!
The size of that first computer was crazy!
Learning about the build of the computer and how it has changed and evolved since then was crazy. I loved watching the Old Bilings computer get torn apart and to know that it was the first one. Also the jellyfish galaxies were really breathtaking. Thank you for this episode!
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE
300th episode!
I really enjoyed the science live, and last weeks proteges were very interesting. I like it when they include the inventioneers.
It’s so cool how its the 300th episode, you guys have come so far!
Federico Faggin improved computer chips and helped create the Intel 4004 at Intel.
My Father is in computers, and he talks about them often. I love them, and love to work with them too. Thanks for sharing this.
I am glad for your dad Lauren.
why wouldn’t you keep the very first billings computer and take apart a computer that is a duplicate of it from the same time and keep the real first one as an artifact? I still think it was very enjoyable watching you take it apart though.
I liked when they took apart the bllings computer, and i don’t know why, but r51 was so funny today! Also congrats for the 300th episode!
Taking apart the old Billings computer was interesting and cool to see. Especially since it was the first one.
Enjoyed this content in today science live I LOVE IT
Dr. Billings has many fascinating and extremely impressive achievements!
I really enjoyed learning about the early computers and how technology has changed over time. It’s amazing to think that computers used to take up entire rooms, and now we can hold powerful ones in our hands. The part about the Billings computer and the innovations like 3D printing was really interesting. Great video!
Doctor Billings is an inspiration.
It was interesting to learn the first computers. Is there a museum with them?
Taking apart the original Billings Computer really puts into perspective how drastically our technology has advanced. Hearing the breakdown of those old voltage controllers, transistors, and grooves makes you appreciate the engineering of the past.
Happy 300th episode! Only Dr. Billings could make the evolution of hardware this fascinating. The story about copying a piece of scrap metal because everyone assumed it was a brilliant engineering tactic is exactly the kind of tech history you don’t find in textbooks!
I found the jellyfish galaxy very cool
I LOVED the thing about the 3D printing, it was awesome
My mom let me take apart a laptop that didn’t work anymore. It’s wild how those little parts work together.
It’s so interesting! Watching acellus live is the best part of my week!
I liked how Dr. John explained various subjects of tech so eloquently!
I loved the explanation on why AI hallucinates, AIs really are just the modern version of spamming the auto-complete on your phone
I really liked learning about the 3d printer. My mom wants to buy one and she was really excited to watch this video with me and learn about it and about computers.
What challenges did Billings face while developing the Billings Computer?
I liked seeing inside the computer like that!
Really interesting switching up the format like this, it was kind of startling how fast the beginning went! I like the new structure though! Straight to the point.
I like how Dr. John explained various tech aspects, like 3D printing processes, and others!
My dad has a 3D printer and we have so much fun making things with it.
thank you for always giving us an entertaining live stream every week! always looking forward to learning more from Acellus.
I genuinely enjoyed watching this Acellus Live session. The lesson was engaging and clearly explained the topic, which made it easy to follow and understand. Overall, it was a valuable learning experience that I appreciated.
Every week the episodes keep getting more interesting!
I wonder how much computers will change in another 50 years!
why dont we just make big 3d printers and print big buildings
It’s so cool 😎 Ai is so great 😃 we should have a course about Ai technology use. 🥹
The part about artificial intelligence was very informative and good to know and remember.
History on computers…it has advanced so much from years ago. I love learning new things each week from you guys. You all rock on teaching new topics all the time. It’s very weird looking in the past to know where computers actually where back in the day to where it is now. Thank you for teaching us all about the computers.
I liked the joke about what kind of tea is hard to swallow. Also the fact that a computer chip was that small in that time, is exrtaodinary.
Wow, seeing how the Z80 microprocessor changed the game really puts into perspective how far we’ve come from those first room-sized machines!!
Awesome episode! I really enjoyed the Roger Billings computer part!!
Thank you! Congratulations to the 300th episode!
I Love Acellus
It’s amazing how people thought to create computers. Learning about Dr. Billings computer has been fascinating! Without computers life would be a-lot harder for multiple reasons. People couldn’t do online school, law offices wouldn’t find documents as easily, computer based jobs wouldn’t be available, etc. Also, if we didn’t have computers during the 2020 pandemic education would’ve been harder. God bless!
I can’t believe how smart Dr. Roger Billings is!!
Learning about Billings Computers and all the computers made from him and the company and how they made one of the first personal computers and microcomputers is so cool!
Caleb never bores me. He looks good and is very funny. He’s kinda hot; i like all the sessions with the protoges, or whatever you call that, because they’re creative and appeal to the visual part of the mind.
The resin printer was pretty cool!!! And congratulations on the 300th episode of science live!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m always so intrigued by watching these LIVES!
The history of computers really helped me learn how advanced we are now! The vacuum tube computers were so weird looking but it’s cool to know that’s where computers started. All the topics covered today were so interesting.
Congratulations on the 300th episode, I love 3D printers. I want one to make fidget toys. I want a programming robot so I can do robotics too.
Acellus is the best!!!!
I’m always so excited to see new videos every week! Y’all are so entertaining and I learn a lot!
I can’t believe the innovation of the 3D printer and how it has gotten so advanced. Great video!
I like watching these videos, lots of new material every week.
Taking apart the old Billings computer was interesting. And to know that it was the first one!
I liked what dr. Joseph said about the jellyfish galaxy is was very interesting!
Hello Acellus I love the science lives there so entertaining, and i’d be interested to see the future of 3d printing.
Wow 300th episode 🤯
Enjoyed this content in today science live, i can not wait for the next week
It is amazing how far computers have come in the sense of size and what they can do. It will be interesting to see where they go next in the future. Thanks!
r-51 is funny I like r-51
Learning more about computers really showed me just how far our technology has come which is awesome!
Congratulations on the 300th episode love to sit here and watch the science lives
It was cool learning how we are able to have personal computers now thanks to people in the past.
The jellyfish galaxies are cool, I feel inspired to draw some galactic themed jellyfish now haha! The resin printer is also pretty neat!!
Learning about the computers and how they used such little memory was cool
Acellus is the best
Watching science live is always so fun!!
I ❤️ Acellus
Overall, very interesting and very great to watch. I like that I could just watch this video and learn new things that I didn’t know before. I look forward every week to look at these videos and see what is new. Even if it comes to learning, it is a fun interactive way to learn.
i liked the taco computer!
I enjoyed watching this Science live episod It was great to hear Roger Billings talk about science and how important education is for our future. I like how he shares his life experiences to encourage us to stay curious and work hard. It motivates me to keep studying science and think about how I can use what I learn to help others
This was a science video I learned a lot.
Ha Ha Ha R.51 is so darn funny 🤣😂😅😆
talking from North Carolina!🇺🇲
This is a one cool science video
There are so many things ive learned with science live and im grateful for it, 300 episodes is alot and i hope it goes on for a long time.
this episode was really interesting, I like learning about computers