BBC computer litracy project
Hi all
I am a volunteer at the museum of computing in Swindon
http://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk/ Which is a nice little museum all about the hsitory of computers and games consoles. It is very hardware based at the momement and very hands-on for a museum.
I am writing a poster about computing in the 80s and specifically the bbc computer literacy project. I am struggling to find out whether a scinlair computer was submitted to the BBC at all. If it was, do you know which one and why wasn't it succesful. If one wasn't, i can't seem to find out why not. can anyone help me with any of these things?
thanks
Jo
I am a volunteer at the museum of computing in Swindon
http://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk/ Which is a nice little museum all about the hsitory of computers and games consoles. It is very hardware based at the momement and very hands-on for a museum.
I am writing a poster about computing in the 80s and specifically the bbc computer literacy project. I am struggling to find out whether a scinlair computer was submitted to the BBC at all. If it was, do you know which one and why wasn't it succesful. If one wasn't, i can't seem to find out why not. can anyone help me with any of these things?
thanks
Jo
Post edited by daftmoo on
Comments
I think the problem in researching all of this, thirty years on, is that much of the 'history' that surrounds these events have attained an almost mythical status. I'm sure others here will be able to contribute their interpretations. Many of these folk are still around and working in the industry, and other forum members might have some contact details for them. Just some thoughts, here.
The BBC drama, 'Micro Men' was (in general) enthusiastically received by many (but not universally all) in the 'retro' communities, although (for narrative, expediency and drama) some inaccuracies did creep in . Sophie Wilson (then, Acorn/BBC micro designer) played a cameo role. She may be a useful person to track down for some insight into this period, as she's still about and working in the IT industry (she has a Wikipedia entry).
Sinclair's involvement with the BBC came before the Spectrum, in the guise of (what later became) the Grundy Newbrain computer. There is some useful information on the Wikipedia entry for this now-obscure British computer here. Like the Spectrum, the Newbrain was/is a Z80 based machine, which is what the BBC originally wanted. The role of Sinclair Radionics and its 'politicised' history perhaps has a role to play in your story, too.
So, I guess what we don't know is 'how', in detail, the BBC contract was negotiated, if indeed 'negotiation' is the right word to use. The Micro Men drama (and much of the other material available on this time) alludes to Sinclair's 'rejection' and the Acorn 'design win', although frankly I don't know to what degree a formal 'submission' was made by either party. Perhaps other contributors here might know.
The near-mythical story about Acorn's 'clinching' of the BBC contract perhaps does deserve some more research, particularly in respect of how (from the BBC's perspective) these contracts were negotiated and delivered. It's easy to see these from the contemporary perspective of 'governance' and 'transparency' at the BBC; I suspect things were a little less rigorous at the time. Perhaps you also need to track down someone from the BBC, too (and maybe an FOI request - perhaps these documents exist in an archive somewhere).
Anyway, let's see what other folk have to add....
The machine the guys from the BBC saw was a hurriedly, put-together ZX81 prototype with a special ROM that output to a ZX Printer. They were also told about the colour ZX Spectrum. The specification for the BBC machine heavily influenced the Spectrum design. From memory it had to cost under ?200, have network capability, RS232 port, a printer for hardcopy and teletext-like characters.
Rick Dickinson, Nine Tiles and John Coll who drew up the spec will have first-hand information.
I will try and find my book for accurate quotes but I recommend it.
John Coll:
Rodney Dale:
at 12:16
http://www.csoft.co.uk/index.htm
Rick Dickinson runs The Product Designers although it has been a while since he popped in here
http://www.theproductdesigners.com/
Rodney Dale runs Fern House Publishing
http://www.fernhouse.com/
and likes cats and is therefore a good judge of intelligence.
Geoff, thanks for the background stuff, especially the Horizon vid - that had some useful stuff in it.
All the best
Jo
:-P
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7307636.stm
The closer to the source the more exciting the story and you can't get closer than Steve Furber, Hermann Hauser, Sophie Wilson and John Radcliffe. The latter was executive director of the project at the BBC and was in charge of several other prestigious projects including the Open University. He was played in Micro Men by actor Jon Glover better known as Harry Enfield's sidekick Mr Chomondley-Warner.
The real John Radcliffe is 75 and was making presentations at the Science museum a couple of years ago.
He must have a great story to tell.