Back in the January edition of Family Computing Magazine, 1984, there is a section for newbies to computing. The section was to help introduce those new to computers to the basics. What is a computer, how it works, what makes a computer a computer, what you can do with a computer and so on.
Back then, acoustic coupler modems were how users were able to connect to one another. These types of modems actually had the user place the headset of the telephone into the modem. I've been meaning to get one of those in my collection. Also in the diagram, you can see a cassette deck. They were used to run programs and save data much like a disk drive, but instead of the computer searching for the program to run, you fast forward or rewind the tape to the right spot, then press play. The computer would then sync with it and then the program would load. There were a few computers that had software controlled cassette players like the Coleco ADAM and Epson PX-8 so you didn't have to manually load a program.
I like looking at these old diagrams. Brings back fond memories of wanting to see what was next in computer technology.
Great article!