BBC The Computer Programme 1982 #01

The Computer Programme was a TV series originally broadcast by the BBC (on BBC2) in 1982. The idea behind the series was to introduce people to computers and show them what they were capable of
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7307636.stm

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Ian
• McNaught-Davis
• Chris
• Serle
• Gill
• Nevill
• history
• computer
• BBC
• The
• Computer
• Programme

[bigants]

Sorry, I have no idea. I haven't followed it up yet.

[cognosc]

Great to see this! any more? Sound is rather distorted - needs the volume turning down :)

[bigants]

Yes, I have a few more to put up. I'm afraid the sound quality is rubish but not a lot I can do about that.

I have spoken Paul Kriwaczek the Producer of this series, he told me that "I believe that the National Film and Television Archive at the BFI has copies of the first and second series of The Computer Programme.

[NiGhtMarEs0nWax]

its something that television lacks today, with all the channels available on satelite you think at least one would have a dedicated segment to computing and computing technology that isnt focused on advertising new hardware, but rather teaching how it works and how it interacts with software. with the evolution of technology, people are being left behind in techno-ignorance. people need educated, at least a larger percentage than there is now.

[threecoloursblue1]

It's just like being back at school in the 80's, the sound is turned up so loud that you can't hear it. Why did my teachers do that????

[marcel911]

I used to love this programme. I had an Atari 800 when this started but soon got the BBC computer. I loved it.

[baarbear]

I remember this. It had Chris Searle and Ian McNaught-Davis (pardon me gentles if I'm spelling your names incorrectely) as hosts.

[3Deity]

@tvilot Yeah I didn't know that either and I watched this on TV first time! 4 bits is a word (MIDI for example - where 'Word Clock' comes from I guess) and 2 bits is a 'Nibble'. Mouse movements are measured in 'Scurries' and as an ex-PC Magazine technical reviewer who spoke to HP, I can confirm that TWAIN *does* stand for Technology Without An Interesting Name'. So there! :o)

[tvilot]

I actually learned something new from this one. "By Eight" as the basis for "byte."

I don't know if that's true or not but ... makes sense. :-)

[xadam2dudex]

I haven't seen this program in yrs..I remember this guys from programs like this 

[LemonPieLoL]

@metalmidget89 i bet if t here was easily available information on the mong box about how cars worked there would be less people taking their car to the garage. TV is for idiots, or for people who are interested in facts they already know.

[metalmidget89]

@NiGhtMarEs0nWax Well, it used to be that part of owning a car was knowing how it worked and how to maintain it. I wouldn't have a clue what the hell goes on under the bonnet of my car, and I bet a lot of people wouldn't these days.

Same thing with computers, now. Most people have no interest in how they work or how to look after one, they just want it to work. Hence the proliferation of overpriced computers that you can't open up and tinker with (I'm looking at you, Apple).

[ForViewingOnly]

Thanks for uploading. Shame about the sound, seems like too much gain on whatever harware/software you used to transfer to PC.

[answerstolucky]

@threecoloursblue1 What?