The Computer Programme

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The Computer Programme

Logo from The Computer Programme
Format Computing
Presented by Ian McNaught-Davis
Chris Serle
Country of origin UK
No. of episodes 10
Production
Running time 25 minutes (approx.)
Broadcast
Original channel BBC 2
Picture format PAL (4:3)
Original run 11th January 1982 – 15th March 1982
Chronology
Followed by Making the Most of the Micro

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. The BBC wanted to use their own computer, so the BBC Micro was developed as part of the BBC Computer Literacy Project, and was featured in this series. The series was successful enough for two series to follow it, namely Making the Most of the Micro in 1983 and Micro Live from 1984 until 1987.

Contents

[edit] Presenters

The two studio presenters were Ian McNaught-Davis (known as 'Mac') and Chris Serle, the former showing the latter some of the rudimentary basics of computer operation and BASIC programming. The 'on location' reporter was Gill Nevill.

[edit] Programmes

The series was split into 10 programmes, each about 25 minutes long and dealing with a particular subject area. They were as follows (original airdates in brackets):

  1. It's Happening Now - (11th January 1982)
  2. Just One Thing After Another - (18th January 1982)
  3. Talking to a Machine - (25th January 1982)
  4. It's On the Computer - (1st February 1982)
  5. The New Media - (8th February 1982)
  6. Moving Pictures - (15th February 1982)
  7. Let's Pretend - (22nd February 1982)
  8. The Thinking Machine - (1st March 1982)
  9. In Control - (8th March 1982)
  10. Things to Come - (15th March 1982)

[edit] Theme music

The theme music to the programme was Kraftwerk's Computer World, taken from their 1981 album of the same name.

Kraftwerk — Computer World excerpt

An excerpt from the The Computer Programme Computer World theme music
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

[edit] External link


v • d • e
British Broadcasting Corporation Computer Literacy Project
BBC Microcomputers
Television programmes and services
The Computer Programme • Making the Most of the Micro • Micro Live • Telesoftware via Ceefax
People
David Allen • John Coll • Connor Freff Cochran • Chris Curry • Steve Furber • Hermann Hauser • Fred Harris • Lesley Judd • Gill Nevill • Ian McNaught-Davis • Richard Russell • Chris Serle • Ian Trackman • Roger/Sophie Wilson
Software
Acorn MOS • Advanced Disc Filing System • Disc Filing System • BBC BASIC • Doctor Who (BBCSoft) • White Knight (BBCSoft)
Companies
Acorn Computers • BBC • CST • Castle Technology • Cumana • Micro Power • Pace Micro Technology • Solidisk • Superior Software • Torch Computers • Technomatic • Watford Electronics
BBC-branded peripherals
Miscellaneous