Alpha (computer)
Encyclopedia
Alpha is the name of a fictional computer in Mike Walker
's radio drama
of the same name.
Alpha has been broadcast several times over the past few years on BBC7 as part of a pair of plays, Alpha and Omega.
Alpha and Omega were first broadcast on the BBC World Service
in 2001 and 2002 respectively before being aired on BBC Radio 4
and BBC 7
. Both plays feature David Calder
as the lead actor.
The first play won the Drama Award (World Service) in 2001's Sony Radio Awards and the second play did even better, winning two Worldplay awards in 2002.
Alpha examines issues of artificial intelligence
from the viewpoint of established Christian
teaching on the soul and human existence in the world. The main character in Alpha is a priest employed by the Vatican
as a sort of troubleshooter.
The other play, Omega, was also written by Mike Walker and focuses on belief in God and in miracle
s, contrasting these issues with the central character's belief in structure
and reality. The central character of Omega is an architect
's building contractor whose daughter has miraculously survived a car crash.
Mike Walker (radio dramatist)
Mike Walker is a radio dramatist and feature and documentary writer. His radio work includes both original plays and adaptations of novels, classical and modern...
's radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
of the same name.
Alpha has been broadcast several times over the past few years on BBC7 as part of a pair of plays, Alpha and Omega.
Alpha and Omega were first broadcast on the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
in 2001 and 2002 respectively before being aired on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and BBC 7
BBC 7
BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital radio station broadcasting comedy, drama, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC's archive of spoken-word entertainment...
. Both plays feature David Calder
David Calder (actor)
David Calder is a British actor.Calder was born in Portsmouth, England, and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His most high profile TV roles include Det. Insp...
as the lead actor.
The first play won the Drama Award (World Service) in 2001's Sony Radio Awards and the second play did even better, winning two Worldplay awards in 2002.
Alpha examines issues of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
from the viewpoint of established Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
teaching on the soul and human existence in the world. The main character in Alpha is a priest employed by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
as a sort of troubleshooter.
The other play, Omega, was also written by Mike Walker and focuses on belief in God and in miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s, contrasting these issues with the central character's belief in structure
Structure
Structure is a fundamental, tangible or intangible notion referring to the recognition, observation, nature, and permanence of patterns and relationships of entities. This notion may itself be an object, such as a built structure, or an attribute, such as the structure of society...
and reality. The central character of Omega is an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
's building contractor whose daughter has miraculously survived a car crash.