Micro Live
Encyclopedia
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
. As the name implies, the series was broadcast live (so causing its own problems such as the infamous incident of the hacked email account).
The first programme was actually a one-off two-hour-long special, broadcast on Sunday 2 October 1983 under the name Making the Most of the Micro Live. A second one-hour special was then broadcast in the summer of 1984 - in that programme it was announced that Micro Live would be back on BBC2 as a regular monthly one-hour series starting in October of that year.
A second season of Micro Live launched in 1985 as a weekly half-hour programme and was followed by a third series of weekly half-hour shows in 1986. The series broadcast its last programme in 1987.
The scope of the programme was much wider than the preceding computer series and had a less formal feel due to its 'live' nature - not only did it cover more subject areas but it also featured more microcomputers instead of its main focus being the BBC Micro
. It also regularly included stories from the United States and recorded various small but significant milestones, such as the first on-air transatlantic cellphone call made in a snowstorm from the top of a New York skyscraper to Lesley Judd sitting in a C5 (car of the future!) outside Television Centre.
ITV also produced a similar programme entitled Database at around the same time, its theme tune written by Rick Wakeman.
was once again the anchorman and he was joined over the course of the series by regulars Lesley Judd
, Fred Harris
and Connor Freff Cochran, an American journalist who did live broadcast and filmed reports from the USA.
and John Coll
logged into the programme's BT Gold email account to demonstrate the features of the then relatively new idea of email, only to find that the account had been hacked. Shortly before air, the floor manager had informed Ian McNaught-Davis the password for the account, unfortunately while his microphone was live. Visiting computer guests, who were in the Green Room
, overheard this information and immediately telephoned a friendly hacker, who proceeded to use the information to get into the account.
The following text was displayed once John Coll
had logged in:
HI THERE, OWLETS, FROM OZ AND YUG
(OLIVER AND GUY)
After that John Coll was able to read his email and continue the demonstration as no damage had been done to the account (although Oz and Yug had sent a few emails).
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...
, Computers In Control, and Making the Most of the Micro
Making the Most of the Micro
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...
. As the name implies, the series was broadcast live (so causing its own problems such as the infamous incident of the hacked email account).
The first programme was actually a one-off two-hour-long special, broadcast on Sunday 2 October 1983 under the name Making the Most of the Micro Live. A second one-hour special was then broadcast in the summer of 1984 - in that programme it was announced that Micro Live would be back on BBC2 as a regular monthly one-hour series starting in October of that year.
A second season of Micro Live launched in 1985 as a weekly half-hour programme and was followed by a third series of weekly half-hour shows in 1986. The series broadcast its last programme in 1987.
The scope of the programme was much wider than the preceding computer series and had a less formal feel due to its 'live' nature - not only did it cover more subject areas but it also featured more microcomputers instead of its main focus being 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...
. It also regularly included stories from the United States and recorded various small but significant milestones, such as the first on-air transatlantic cellphone call made in a snowstorm from the top of a New York skyscraper to Lesley Judd sitting in a C5 (car of the future!) outside Television Centre.
ITV also produced a similar programme entitled Database at around the same time, its theme tune written by Rick Wakeman.
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...
was once again the anchorman and he was joined over the course of the series by regulars Lesley Judd
Lesley Judd
Lesley Judd is an English dancer and TV presenter, best known as a long-serving host of the BBC children's programme Blue Peter. She was educated at the independent Royal Ballet School...
, Fred Harris
Fred Harris (presenter)
Fred Harris is a British comedian and children's television presenter. Formerly a school teacher, he began his television career as a presenter of the BBC children's programme Play School, on which he appeared regularly between 1973 and 1988...
and Connor Freff Cochran, an American journalist who did live broadcast and filmed reports from the USA.
The Hacking Incident
The first one-off special was the subject of a memorable hacking incident. 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...
and 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....
logged into the programme's BT Gold email account to demonstrate the features of the then relatively new idea of email, only to find that the account had been hacked. Shortly before air, the floor manager had informed Ian McNaught-Davis the password for the account, unfortunately while his microphone was live. Visiting computer guests, who were in the Green Room
Green room
In British English and American English show business lexicon, the green room is that space in a theatre, a studio, or a similar venue, which accommodates performers or speakers not yet required on stage...
, overheard this information and immediately telephoned a friendly hacker, who proceeded to use the information to get into the account.
The following text was displayed once 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....
had logged in:
- Computer Security Error. Illegal access.
- I hope your Television PROGRAMME runs
- as smoothly as my PROGRAM worked out
- your passwords! Nothing is secure!
- Hackers' Song.
- "Put another password in,
- Bomb it out and try again,
- Try to get past logging in,
- we're Hacking, Hacking, Hacking.
- Try his first wife's maiden name,
- This is more than just a game,
- It's real fun, but just the same,
- It's Hacking, Hacking, Hacking."
- The NutCracker
- ( Hackers' UK )
HI THERE, OWLETS, FROM OZ AND YUG
(OLIVER AND GUY)
After that John Coll was able to read his email and continue the demonstration as no damage had been done to the account (although Oz and Yug had sent a few emails).