Software was contained on stereo cassettes, allowing synchronized transmission of narrated audio recordings and sound effects from one channel and program data from the other.

[2] Accompanying literature described the RCA 1802-powered system as "the revolutionary home computer... Programmed to talk... play games, teach math, or help with your tax return."

Although a reported 10,000 units were shipped, limited traction coupled with manufacturing problems and rising competition resulted in discontinuation by the early 1980s and cancelation of the prototyped CyberVision 4001.

As part of contractual work on the QUBE project for Warner Media, the two drove to a local computer shop to purchase a Compucolor 8001.

On arrival, they met hardware engineers Jim McConnell and John McMullin who were actively working on a computer prototype to pitch to Montgomery Ward.

[3] On August 19, 1977, Montgomery Ward confirmed the computer would be the lead-in product for their 1978 Spring General catalog and expressed intent on ordering thousands of units for $250 wholesale.

[8] According to Ken Balthaser, production was plagued from the beginning by manufacturing problems and lack of experience by Chem-Con, which at the time specialized in military equipment.

[1] In 1983, James Christian of Chem-Con was asked what happened to CyberVision and remarked: "We ranked in the top 20 in a survey conducted by Popular Mechanics magazine, but sales have diminished quite a bit...We built specifically to purchase orders and not to speculation.

"[9] Powers, Miller, Laurel and other core members of ARI ultimately moved to California to work at Atari and other technical ventures following the discontinuation of CyberVision.

An RCA 1802 CPU running at approximately 2.52 MHz drives the 1 KB system ROM alongside four distinct CDP1852 input/output chips and a CD4034B bidirectional parallel bus, to handle peripheral interfacing.

These hand controllers lack any joystick or navigation keys common in other systems, but feature the full uppercase English alphanumeric character set along with four action buttons (On, Off, Clear, Enter).

The system photographed for inclusion in Montgomery Ward and other advertisements had reversed arrangement of the logo and reset/LED mounts, as well as a top-mounted cassette deck with its own volume control.

The use of stereo cassette media allows software titles to integrate studio-quality audio recordings alongside on-screen data.

[17] Interactive storybooks for children were prominently displayed at tradeshows to demonstrate the innovation of this media format, which Creative Computing referred to as "the dawn of a new era in storytelling.

The cassette showcases the audiovisual capabilities of CyberVision and includes previews of several anticipated software programs, keypad interaction, animations and coloring effects.

While initial marketing indicated that there would be hundreds of software programs available for the system, only a small batch of titles were released before the product line was discontinued.