Abstract: A system for control of a video storage device by a programmed processor. A preferred implementation illustrates a tutorial system including a personal computer as the programmed processor, a video cassette recorder as the video storage device, a video monitor, and an interface and control circuit for communication and control among the system elements. Under control of the personal computer audio, video, and digital data can be read from or written to any location on a video tape of the video cassette recorder. The system uses this capability to store a plurality of video segments and audio segments on the video tape relating to a story board. Additionally stored on the tape is a programmed index in digital form indicating the storyboard sequence of the video segments and their locations on the tape. An interactive teaching program run on the personal computer reads the index and plays the video segments in the story board sequence.