Electric Avenue
1. The By-Product
Clips from this programme
The public enjoying a jolting ride in a 'spaceship simulator' including a trip to Mars and meteor storms. The first trip to the moon in 1969 was just the beginning of the use of computers in space travel.
Duration: 01:49
The opening titles were filmed as a live domino drop by designer Graham McCallum. The dominoes were hinged, so that they could be re-set with relative ease for different close-ups.
Duration: 00:28
Astronaut Paul Sculley-Power describes his earlier experience with valve computers, introducing a look at how increasingly miniaturised computers have played a vital part in to space travel.
Duration: 07:24
At an archeological dig in North Yorkshire - how hand held devices in the field feed enormous amounts of data into a central computer for analysis and archiving.
Duration: 04:39
Handling the data about disease control at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - and giving personal advice to travellers.
Duration: 04:57
Julia has little sight, and found herself building a bank of technology to support her. She demonstrates a small device that turns print into braille that can be interpreted by her fingertip.
Duration: 03:40
Round up of the versatility of the micro and the ingenuity of those who use it.
Duration: 00:21
Round-up & End Titles
Duration: 00:56Electric Avenue - Series 1
1. The By-Product
First broadcast: 24th October 1988
Duration 24:19
First in a series of ten programmes about computers in society with Fred Harris. The By-product: The space race of the 1960s developed a new breed of lightweight computers to control spacecraft. A major by-product was the silicon chip. If it weren't for the Apollo project, the personal computer would still be a fantasy of the future. Film editor IAN MCKENDRICK Director TINA FLETCHER Producer TERRY MARSH
Now playing
2. The Machine
First broadcast: 31st October 1988
Duration 24:15
A series of ten programmes about computers in society with Fred Harris 2:The Machine The magnificent Boston Symphony Organ is, in fact, two automatic player organs in concert. They were rescued, waterlogged, from two private residences, and restored by Boston University. Director DAVID HARRISON Film editor IAN MCKENDRICK Producer TERRY MARSH
3. Well Connected
First broadcast: 7th November 1988
Duration 24:17
A series of ten programmes about computers in society with Fred Harris. 3: Well Connected: On a windy beach near South Humberside, scientists from the Sea Mammal Research Unit try to catch a grey seal in their nets. The idea is to attach a radio transmitter to its back and track the seal's behaviour with a satellite overhead. Director DAVID HARRISON Producer TERRY MARSH
4. What Next?
First broadcast: 14th November 1988
Duration 24:14
Fourth in a series of tenprogrammes about computers in society with Fred Harris. What Next?: More and more shops are being fitted with electronic tills. These tills can send their daily sales information down a telephone line to a main computer. But what happens to the information then? Film editor IAN MCKENDRICK Director DAVID HARRISON Producer TERRY MARSH
5. New Directions
First broadcast: 28th November 1988
Duration 24:11
Fifth of ten programmes with Fred Harris. New Directions: The hobby computers of yesterday have changed the face of computing today. It has become accessible to ordinary people enabling them to develop new ideas in business and industry. Film editor PETER ESSEX Series producer TERRY MARSH
6. Chips and Drumsticks
First broadcast: 5th December 1988
Duration 23:49
Sixth in a series of ten programmes about computers in society with Fred Harris. Chips and Drumstick: In a London squat, two musicians built themselves a drum kit from cheap and freely available parts - silicon chips. They realised they had a winner on their hands, and joined up with a marketing company to sell large numbers to eager buyers. But attempts to build on this success have not gone so smoothly. Film editor IAN MCKENDRICK Director D J HARRISON Series producer TERRY MARSH
7. Housewives Choice?
First broadcast: 12th December 1988
Duration 24:10
Seventh of ten programmes about computers in society with Fred Harris. Housewives Choice?: Are you a 'modern clean liver', or a 'guilty eater'? Advertising executives pour over their computer Printouts trying to find the sort of person who will buy their breakfast cereal. Rather than promote the product to all and sundry, they are hoping to appeal to a 'niche market who will appreciate quality and pay extra for it. Photography NIALL KENNEDY Producer TERRY MARSH
8. Money Talks
First broadcast: 9th January 1989
Duration 24:17
Ten programmes with Fred Harris. 8: Money Talks: Lloyds of London will insure virtually anything. In 1987 a new computer system was introduced, but underwriters had to be persuaded that this was their way forward. Cameramen HENRY FARRAR, NIALL KENNEDY Producer TERRY MARSH
9. Safety First
First broadcast: 16th January 1989
Duration 24:03
A series of ten programmes with Fred Harris. 9: Safety First: When all else fails, a computer-controlled brain can at least be made to 'fail safe', which means in an emergency it simply stops. But it is more difficult to apply this principle to a computer-controlled plane. Cameramen NIALL KENNEDY , ROGER TWYMAN Producer TERRY MARSH
10. The Design Machine
First broadcast: 23rd January 1989
Duration 23:26
Last in a series of ten programmes about computers in society with Fred Harris. The Design Machine: Peter de Savary's yacht designers turned to computers to help build an America's Cup challenger in a matter of months. Computers can often speed up design work, but do they improve the quality of the end product? Film editor IAN MCKENDRICK Director DAVID HARRISON Producer TERRY MARSH
Electric Avenue - Series 2
1. Computing the President
First broadcast: 15th January 1990
Duration 22:36
When George Bush was elected president, he could thank computers for much of his campaign success. But political commentators claim that computers have raised disturbing civil rights issues. Producer PAUL SIMONS
2. The Experts' Expert
First broadcast: 22nd January 1990
Duration 22:49
Expert systems are helping human professionals solve many problems. But as experience from the military shows, they can be misused. Commentary: Tom Mangold. Producer PAUL SIMONS
3. Computers Can't Go Wrong, Can They?
First broadcast: 29th January 1990
Duration 23:11
Computer software has no safety standards. Lives may have been lost by computer failures and experts predict major disasters in the future. Producer DAVID HARRISON
4. Computers: A Cautionary Tale
First broadcast: 5th February 1990
Duration 24:10
Computers a Cautionary Tale A recruitment agency is trying to computerise its office. What problems does it face? Commentary ANNA MASSEY Producer PAUL SIMONS
5. Home Bleep Home
First broadcast: 12th February 1990
Duration 23:22
Home Bleep Home: Robot servants are still a long way off, but automated homes offer ageing populations a graceful way to grow old. Commentary ANNA MASSEY Producer DAVID HARRISON