==== Introduction:

In the 1980s, the BBC explored the world of computing in The Computer Literacy
Project. They commissioned a home computer (the BBC Micro) and taught viewers
how to program.

The Computer Literacy Project chronicled a decade of information technology and
was a milestone in the history of computing in Britain, helping to inspire a
generation of coders.

==== Individual Shows:

Horizon

The influential 'Now the Chips are Down' drew attention to computer technology
creeping up on the world and to Britain's unreadiness for it.

The Silicon Factor

This series of three peak hour programmes fronted by seasoned Current Affairs
reporter Bernard Falk asked what the new microprocessor-based technology was
all about, how it threatened British industry's competitiveness because of its
complacency and then looked at the future - at how society might be profoundly
changed by computers - chips - the Silicon Factor.

Managing the Micro

This series aimed primarily at small businesses and further education colleges
was fronted by the much respected Radio 4 'Today' presenter Brian Redhead. It
showed examples of what can be done by looking at companies which had embraced
the new technology in manufacturing or services. A typical example was the new
use of bar codes in Tesco's supermarkets

The Computer Programme

This series looked at all major aspects of computing, using a naive presenter
(Chris Serle) and a computer expert - Ian McNaught Davis. The programmes
consisted of a lively mix of real life examples of computers in use - at how
they work and what they're used for, both at high and low level, and explaining
principles - often by analogy.

Although the BBC Microcomputer had been delayed in production it made its first
appearance in this series.

Making the Most of the Micro

This series went into much more practical detail about how to use home
computers for a range of purposes. Each programme looked at examples of
computing in the wider world as well as at home micro applications. The BBC
micro itself was used for demonstrations and to display explanatory graphics as
well as producing in-vision name superimpositions and the end credits.

Presenter Ian McNaught Davis (a self confessed 'mainframer' - i.e., a
professional user of big computers) - was led through the practical world of
the microcomputer by John Coll and others such as Ian Trackman. The series was
more technically demanding than the first series yet attracted a bigger
audience.

MTMOTM Live Special

The massive interest after the first two series led the production team to
produce Making the Most of the Micro - Live! - a two hour BBC1 special where
viewers' questions were answered and demonstrations of new things were shown
live on air. During the programme hackers broke into the live demonstration of
electronic mail. There was also a demonstration of the BBC's Telesoftware
Service.

Kenneth Baker, minister for Information Technology appeared to promote a
national schools software completion.

The success of this initiative led to a second live special and the idea for a
continuing series of live programmes - Micro Live, which ran for four years
from 1983 to 1987. 

Computers in Control

This series examined one important aspect of computing - robotics - in other
words how the computer can monitor and control things. Again there was a mix of
real world examples - many from America, practical demonstrations and a "hands
on" approach to coding.

The BBC robot 'buggy' was marketed for d-I-y enthusiasts. Ian McNaught Davis
was again the main presenter.

Electronic Office

Ian McNaught Davis examines and explains the changing world of the office and
shows how new technology is altering how people work.

Micro Live

Following the two successful Making the Most of the Micro - Live! 'specials' in
1983, BBC2 transmitted MicoLive, a regular magazine series to keep people up to
date with technological developments. Fronted by Ian McNaught Davis, Lesley
Judd and Fred Harris, MicroLive ran for three years.

Instead of a structured approach, MicroLive was reactive, with up to the minute
news and many explanations of how things work,. Occasional but regular reports
came from an american reporter, Connor Cochrane, known as Freff.

A typical example is the first broadcast attempt to make a transatlantic mobile
to mobile telephone call from a moving vehicle (Lesley Judd in a Sinclair C5
called Freff in New York). The item included an explanation by Ian McNaught
Davis of how the cellular phone system works and the software for this can be
run as part of this archive. The last programme in 1987 included an interview
with Derek Jacobi, playing Alan Turing in the play Breaking the Code.

The Learning Machine

A questioning, almost iconoclastic series looking critically at the claims made
for computers in education and at how the reality fell short of the hype.
Introduced by Tim O'Shea

With a Little Help from the Chip

Six programmes looking at the way computer based technology helped people with
various kinds of disability.

Micro File

Two series of compilations from Micro Live

Micro Mind Stretchers

A Schools Television series presented by Carol Vorderman. This encouraged
schools to experiment in various specific ways.

Electric Avenue

A series of ten programmes about computers in society, with Fred Harris.

The Trojan Mouse: Retrospective on the Project

A special programme marking a decade of the BBC Computer Literacy Project. Ten
years ago the BBC embarked on an ambitious project to help ordinary people to
come to terms with the micro-computer revolution, which was making it possible
for almost anyone to have their own computer. The effects of that project and
the computer that it gave birth to are still reverberating, particularly in
schools.