Opening Titles: An industrial robot builds the series title. Graphic design by Charles McGhie; music by Roger Limb at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop

In the 19th century water was pumped to London by these huge Boulton and Watt steam engines at Kew. They exemplify the revolutionary age of mechanisation when machines replaced muscle and opened up industrialisation.

Series presenter, Bernard Falk (well known in the 1980s as a Current Affairs reporter) introduces the idea of the new revolutionary age of computer controlled machines with 'memory'. He teaches a robot of the kind seen in the opening titles to remember and then write his name.

In the offices of Citibank in New York a glimpse of the future. Word processors also with 'memory' speed up customised letters; computer controlled ink-jet printers print them out. The revolution is made possible because of the silicon chip - found in calculators, pocket translators and other gimmicks flooding the market (in the late 1970s).

Christopher Evans a computer scientist at the National Physical Laboratory, Philip Reasbeck, chief scientist at Lucas Industries and Barry Sheerman, research director of the ASTMS union predict the profound changes being brought about by this new technology.

Falk quickly traces the history of computer technology from the enormous valve based ENIAC computer of 1949 through a transistorised machine of the 1950s to the invention of the silicon chip and integrated circuits in the 1960s. Since then the number of components on a chip has doubled each year (Moore's Law). Evolution turns to revolution.

The manufacture of silicon chip integrated circuits is described in detail at Mullards in Southampton with the help of David Heard. All the components of a complete computer can now be etched on a single chip of silicon. A million memory components is predicted by 1984

Christopher Evans predicts that computers are going to become very cheap, very reliable, more powerful and everywhere.

An animated sequence shows how a computer program works using a whimsical analogy of a driver approaching traffic lights. A simple algorithm and the basic components of a binary digital computer are explained: input, memory, processor, output device. Chips can be seen actually operating binary (ons and offs) under a microscope.

Computers are now coming into the high street and being used by small businesses. Serge Lowry a delicatessen owner has been finding out how a home computer can help with his book keeping.

Video TV games and computer controlled model cars show new applications in microprocessor controlled consumer goods now beginning to flood the market.

Microelectronics in 1979 appearing in real cars - controlling for example ignition, fuel injection, early warning and monitoring systems. Philip Reasbeck of Lucas predicts the future of electronics in the motor industry - for example Jack-knife skidding prevented by computer controlled brakes.

The mobile cell phone is trialled in Chicago in 1979. Admittedly it's bulky, with electronics in a car boot, but it shows the beginnings of the mobile phones we carry in our pockets today.

Novelty phones in an american store use built in microelectronics to store numbers.

Prestel (developed by the post office in the UK) uses the telephone lines to carry and display data. A precursor of the internet. A central computer distributes information to a terminal in the home. Home shopping is on the way - as well as finding the price of wine, Falk orders some Chateu Talbot and pays for it online with a credit card.

At Bell Labs - where the transistor was developed - fibre optic links are developed to vastly multiply the amount of data carried by the telephone system. A single fibre could carry all the telephone conversations in North America.

Microelectronic control of a family house. An american millionaire Dick Brodner spent £250,000 developing an early micro controlled house system - managing heating, security, air conditioning, lighting and so on. HIs wife "in awe of it" has a screen with recipes in the kitchen. Dick's rationale for the outlay: "The difference between men and boys is the size and value of their toys"

A child's ability to recognise and pick out objects easily is contrasted with a machine designed to detect and handle a part for a tape recorder in Philips Research labs. Donald Michie professor of Machine Intelligence at Edinburgh University speculates about autonomous machines that can learn by example. Robots working in a car factory pick up parts.

At Bell Labs an experimental voice recognition system shows its abilities and its limitations. Comments by Donald Herriot of Bell Labs.

Conclusion - this powerful, exploding technology will affect predicable and repetitive jobs profoundly and therefore cause both job losses and opportunity. Chris Evans says we may be entering a world of benevolent slavery.

End titles and credits © BBC 1980