In the 1980s we also downloaded software from TV

In the previous newslttr, I wrote about downloading software from radio broadcasts in the 1980s. It sparked some lively conversation on Hacker News which also brought up some other 80s software oddities. One obvious parallel was with software downloads via TV broadcast which is the subject of today's trip down 8k Memory Lane. Join me as once again I lead us back to the 1980s. You'll recall that the 8-bit computer craze was taking the UK by storm. Multiple TV shows were capitalising on the fervour. Most famous were the BBC ones : The Computer Programme, Micro Live and so forth. But the commercial channels (all two of them) were also in on the act. ITV had the soberly titled "Database" whilst upstart Channel 4 had the more funky "Four Computer Buffs". You'll see from the photo below just how funky and buff they were. "Funky" 💡 Fun fact, one of the four buffs was the late Guy Kewney who was the intended interviewee in the BBC's "Wrong Guy" incident in 2006. These shows were much more ... Read full article.