Making the Most of the Micro
Encyclopedia
Making the Most of the Micro was a TV series broadcast in 1983 as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project. It followed the earlier series The Computer Programme
. Unlike its predecessor, Making the Most of the Micro delved somewhat deeper into the technicalities and uses that microcomputer
s could be put to, once again mainly using the BBC Micro
in the studio for demonstration purposes. The series was followed by Micro Live
.
(known as 'Mac') was once again the anchorman but Chris Serle
and Gill Nevill were absent, instead various experts were brought in as required to demonstrate some of the more technical aspects of the microcomputers and their uses. John Coll
was the main technical 'bod' (he had also written the User Guide for the BBC Micro
along with other manuals) and Ian Trackman also featured - he wrote most of the software that was used for demonstrating certain features of the microcomputer, not only for this series but also The Computer Programme
and Computers in Control. The programme also featured location reports to demonstrate various practical and business uses of microcomputers.
The Computer Programme
The Computer Programme was a TV series, produced by Paul Kriwaczek, originally broadcast by the BBC in 1982. The idea behind the series was to introduce people to computers and show them what they were capable of. The BBC wanted to use their own computer, so the BBC Micro was developed as part of...
. Unlike its predecessor, Making the Most of the Micro delved somewhat deeper into the technicalities and uses that microcomputer
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers...
s could be put to, once again mainly using the BBC Micro
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
in the studio for demonstration purposes. The series was followed by Micro Live
Micro Live
Micro Live was a BBC2 TV series that was produced by David Allen as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project, and followed on from earlier series such as The Computer Programme, Computers In Control, and Making the Most of the Micro...
.
Presenters
Ian McNaught-DavisIan McNaught-Davis
Ian McNaught-Davis is most recognised nowadays for presenting the BBC TV series The Computer Programme, Making the Most of the Micro and Micro Live in the 1980s. However, he is also a well-known mountaineer and alpinist...
(known as 'Mac') was once again the anchorman but Chris Serle
Chris Serle
Christopher "Chris" Richard Serle is a former BBC TV presenter, reporter and actor. Serle was educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied modern languages...
and Gill Nevill were absent, instead various experts were brought in as required to demonstrate some of the more technical aspects of the microcomputers and their uses. John Coll
John Coll
John Coll appeared regularly on the television programmes Making the Most of the Micro and Micro Live - he was also closely involved in the development of the BBC Micro with Acorn Computers....
was the main technical 'bod' (he had also written the User Guide for the BBC Micro
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
along with other manuals) and Ian Trackman also featured - he wrote most of the software that was used for demonstrating certain features of the microcomputer, not only for this series but also The Computer Programme
The Computer Programme
The Computer Programme was a TV series, produced by Paul Kriwaczek, originally broadcast by the BBC in 1982. The idea behind the series was to introduce people to computers and show them what they were capable of. The BBC wanted to use their own computer, so the BBC Micro was developed as part of...
and Computers in Control. The programme also featured location reports to demonstrate various practical and business uses of microcomputers.
Programmes
The series was split into 10 programmes, each about 25 minutes long and dealing with a particular subject area. They were as follows (original airdates in brackets):- The Versatile Machine (10 January 1983)
- Getting Down to BASIC (17 January 1983)
- Strings and Things (24 January 1983)
- Introducing Graphics (31 January 1983)
- Keeping a Record (7 February 1983)
- Getting Down to Business (14 February 1983)
- Sounds Interesting (21 February 1983)
- Everything Under Control (28 February 1983)
- Moving Pictures (7 March 1983)
- At the End of the Line (14 March 1983)