Home » CEEFAX disks » telesoftware17.adl » 25-08-89/closure

25-08-89/closure

This website contains an archive of files for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 computers, which Dominic Ford has rescued from his private collection of floppy disks and cassettes.

Some of these files were originally commercial releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are now widely available online. I assume that copyright over them is no longer being asserted. If you own the copyright and would like files to be removed, please contact me.

Tape/disk: Home » CEEFAX disks » telesoftware17.adl
Filename: 25-08-89/closure
Read OK: ✔
File size: 1FF5 bytes
Load address: 0000
Exec address: FFFFFFFF
File contents
TELESOFTWARE CLOSURE 

As you are probably aware, the BBC is currently having to
examine every area of its operations with a view to saving
money, or to make better use of existing resources. In the
case of Telesoftware there are additional technical reasons
for its closure.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Under the present transmission system, Telesoftware adds
about 20 per cent to access time for users of the readable
text service on BBC2. A new teletext transmission system is
being introduced to enable the BBC to expand and enhance the
main CEEFAX service, and the effectiveness of this would be
seriously impaired by the need to devote a disproportionate
amount of computer preparation and transmission capacity to
Telesoftware.

The BBC has also had to consider how most efficiently to
allocate the use of the available VBI (Vertical Blanking
Interval) lines in the television signal between CEEFAX, the
Subtitling service for the hearing-impaired - which the BBC
is also expanding - and the highly successful Data
Broadcasting division of BBC Enterprises. (Incidentally, the
'No Need To Shout' section for the deaf is not affected.)

As capacity is limited, such allocation has to be made on
the basis of providing the most cost effective services to
the maximum number of people. 

TELESOFTWARE AND EDUCATION

Even before the decision about Telesoftware was taken, BBC
Schools Television, who used the service as a means of
distributing programme notes, had decided that after the
next academic year, they would discontinue this method of
distribution because so few schools now use it, and the
duplication of effort required could no longer be justified.

It is appreciated that some schools have also made use of
some of the software programs transmitted by Telesoftware.
But with the exception of the weather satellite image
transmission (q.v.), similar programs - and in many cases
identical programs - are available from other sources.

TIMING OF CLOSURE

When the decision came, on July 24th, one of the factors in
the timing of its implementation was that it would be better
to effect the closure before the next school term started,
thereby avoiding problems that might be created had programs
been started and then left incomplete.

The main consideration, however, was related to the
technical changes needed for the enhancement of the main
CEEFAX services. The first stage of this is tied in with the
launch of a new style of early morning television on BBC1 in
mid-September. Once the decision to end Telesoftware had
been taken, there were considerable savings to be made in
doing it sooner rather than later, since the continuation of
Telesoftware for even a short period beyond September would
have made it necessary to commission - at additional cost -
two versions of the technical and software changes required
for the new CEEFAX service.

TELESOFTWARE IN CONTEXT

It is worth remembering that the BBC Micro was a consequence
of the Computer Literacy Project started by BBC Continuing
Education in the early 80s. That project achieved its aims
and has long since ceased to be active, although support for
the BBC Micro continued. Telesoftware was devised to provide
software support to the BBC Micro in the early days,
particularly in relation to Education programmes. It has
always been a minor adjunct to, and not an integral part of,
the BBC'S commitment to the BBC Microcomputer.

Some statistics might be illuminating.

There are more than 6 million teletext sets in use in UK
homes, with around 20 million people using the service each
week.

The last total (in May) of sales of teletext adaptors showed
that there were just over 31,500 in domestic use. Obviously
some more will have been sold since then - but on the
evidence of figures from one manufacturer, this has been in
the low hundreds, including the IBM card.

At the most generous interpretation of the figures, this is
only about 7% of what might be expected to be the biggest
target audience - owners of BBC Micros. In other words,
after five years, more than 90% of the people for whom the
service was devised have found it neither necessary nor
attractive.

It also means that fewer than 0.2% (0.17%) of teletext users
actually own an adaptor - and at the most generous estimate,
0.5% have access to a teletext adaptor. This, of course,
assumes that all adaptor owners - and their entire families
- actually use it every week.

The department's budget is for the benefit of ALL teletext
users, and the amount required to maintain the Telesoftware
service - about 10% - is seriously disproportionate to the
number of potential users.

SOFTWARE AND THE SATELLITE IMAGE

With the exception of the Meteosat image, the type of
software that has been transmitted by this service is by no
means unique, and the Meteosat service could not, in any
event, have been continued for much longer.

We have been allowed access to it free of charge by the Met
Office, but they have advised us that they have plans to
turn it into a coded service for transmission under licence.
Even if the BBC could afford to subscribe, it is doubtful
that we would be allowed to provide, free of charge to
Telesoftware users, something another organisation wishes to
sell.

That aside, there are several ways (apart from normal
commercial outlets) through which BBC Micro owners can
obtain or swap around information and software - most
notably the kind of magazines and user groups to which
owners of all other micros (who haven't had the advantage of
a free software delivery service) have always had to turn.

In short, the closure of the Telesoftware service in no way
cuts off vital supplies of software, merely one means of
their delivery.

PUBLIC DOMAIN/SHAREWARE

Critics of the quality and sophistication of Telesoftware
programs - and there have been some - have suggested that
the service should include more Public Domain and Shareware
material. Unfortunately, while Public Domain can be freely
exchanged between individuals, there are copyright problemns
which require the BBC to seek permission from each author to
transmit the material - a time-consuming and costly process.
Full time staff would have to be employed to catalogue the
material and check each item for bugs, and ensure that it is
not a pirate copy, for example.

Shareware works on the basis of trust - that those who find
the programs useful, should send a specific amount to the
author. It is impossible for the BBC to monitor who is
taking the material, who is finding it useful, and whether
the recipient is paying the author.

TELETEXT ADAPTORS

It is regretable that those who have recently purchased
teletext adaptors now find that the main reason for that
purchase has gone, and it is appreciated that it is no
consolation to those who acted on some of the more recent
computer press and advertising statements about the future
of Telesoftware that such statements were being made without
the authority of the BBC.

It should also be noted that, contrary to popular myth, most
of the software that has been transmitted over the years,
while free to the Telesoftware user, has had to be purchased
by the BBC. So, apart from those who unfortunately purchased
an adaptor very recently, the vast majority of Telesoftware
users have had more than value for money. It is, after all,
the normal practice for computer user groups to levy at
least an annual subscription to help fund the purchase of
software for the group - and there is usually at least a
nominal charge to members for each piece of software.

It is not out of the question, however, that some form of
software transmission could be developed as a BBC Datacast
subscription service for home micro users, accessible with
existing teletext adaptors.

The continuation of what has been, in effect, a free
software delivery service to a 'user group' representing a
small percentage of enthusiasts for a particular model of
home microcomputer is a luxury which the BBC can no longer
afford.
00000000  54 45 4c 45 53 4f 46 54  57 41 52 45 20 43 4c 4f  |TELESOFTWARE CLO|
00000010  53 55 52 45 20 0d 0a 0d  0a 41 73 20 79 6f 75 20  |SURE ....As you |
00000020  61 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62  61 62 6c 79 20 61 77 61  |are probably awa|
00000030  72 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20  42 42 43 20 69 73 20 63  |re, the BBC is c|
00000040  75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79  20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20  |urrently having |
00000050  74 6f 0d 0a 65 78 61 6d  69 6e 65 20 65 76 65 72  |to..examine ever|
00000060  79 20 61 72 65 61 20 6f  66 20 69 74 73 20 6f 70  |y area of its op|
00000070  65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73  20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20  |erations with a |
00000080  76 69 65 77 20 74 6f 20  73 61 76 69 6e 67 0d 0a  |view to saving..|
00000090  6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 6f  72 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b  |money, or to mak|
000000a0  65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72  20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20  |e better use of |
000000b0  65 78 69 73 74 69 6e 67  20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63  |existing resourc|
000000c0  65 73 2e 20 49 6e 20 74  68 65 0d 0a 63 61 73 65  |es. In the..case|
000000d0  20 6f 66 20 54 65 6c 65  73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65  | of Telesoftware|
000000e0  20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61  72 65 20 61 64 64 69 74  | there are addit|
000000f0  69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 65  63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 20  |ional technical |
00000100  72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 0d  0a 66 6f 72 20 69 74 73  |reasons..for its|
00000110  20 63 6c 6f 73 75 72 65  2e 0d 0a 0d 0a 54 45 43  | closure.....TEC|
00000120  48 4e 49 43 41 4c 20 43  4f 4e 53 49 44 45 52 41  |HNICAL CONSIDERA|
00000130  54 49 4f 4e 53 0d 0a 0d  0a 55 6e 64 65 72 20 74  |TIONS....Under t|
00000140  68 65 20 70 72 65 73 65  6e 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73  |he present trans|
00000150  6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20  73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20  |mission system, |
00000160  54 65 6c 65 73 6f 66 74  77 61 72 65 20 61 64 64  |Telesoftware add|
00000170  73 0d 0a 61 62 6f 75 74  20 32 30 20 70 65 72 20  |s..about 20 per |
00000180  63 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74  |cent to access t|
00000190  69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20  75 73 65 72 73 20 6f 66  |ime for users of|
000001a0  20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61  64 61 62 6c 65 0d 0a 74  | the readable..t|
000001b0  65 78 74 20 73 65 72 76  69 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 42  |ext service on B|
000001c0  42 43 32 2e 20 41 20 6e  65 77 20 74 65 6c 65 74  |BC2. A new telet|
000001d0  65 78 74 20 74 72 61 6e  73 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e  |ext transmission|
000001e0  20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20  69 73 0d 0a 62 65 69 6e  | system is..bein|
000001f0  67 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64  75 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20  |g introduced to |
00000200  65 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74  68 65 20 42 42 43 20 74  |enable the BBC t|
00000210  6f 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64  20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 68  |o expand and enh|
00000220  61 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65  0d 0a 6d 61 69 6e 20 43  |ance the..main C|
00000230  45 45 46 41 58 20 73 65  72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 61  |EEFAX service, a|
00000240  6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 65  66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65  |nd the effective|
00000250  6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20  74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 75  |ness of this wou|
00000260  6c 64 20 62 65 0d 0a 73  65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79  |ld be..seriously|
00000270  20 69 6d 70 61 69 72 65  64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65  | impaired by the|
00000280  20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f  20 64 65 76 6f 74 65 20  | need to devote |
00000290  61 20 64 69 73 70 72 6f  70 6f 72 74 69 6f 6e 61  |a disproportiona|
000002a0  74 65 0d 0a 61 6d 6f 75  6e 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f  |te..amount of co|
000002b0  6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 70  72 65 70 61 72 61 74 69  |mputer preparati|
000002c0  6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 74  72 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73  |on and transmiss|
000002d0  69 6f 6e 20 63 61 70 61  63 69 74 79 20 74 6f 0d  |ion capacity to.|
000002e0  0a 54 65 6c 65 73 6f 66  74 77 61 72 65 2e 0d 0a  |.Telesoftware...|
000002f0  0d 0a 54 68 65 20 42 42  43 20 68 61 73 20 61 6c  |..The BBC has al|
00000300  73 6f 20 68 61 64 20 74  6f 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64  |so had to consid|
00000310  65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 6d  6f 73 74 20 65 66 66 69  |er how most effi|
00000320  63 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 20  74 6f 0d 0a 61 6c 6c 6f  |ciently to..allo|
00000330  63 61 74 65 20 74 68 65  20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20  |cate the use of |
00000340  74 68 65 20 61 76 61 69  6c 61 62 6c 65 20 56 42  |the available VB|
00000350  49 20 28 56 65 72 74 69  63 61 6c 20 42 6c 61 6e  |I (Vertical Blan|
00000360  6b 69 6e 67 0d 0a 49 6e  74 65 72 76 61 6c 29 20  |king..Interval) |
00000370  6c 69 6e 65 73 20 69 6e  20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6c  |lines in the tel|
00000380  65 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20  73 69 67 6e 61 6c 20 62  |evision signal b|
00000390  65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 43  45 45 46 41 58 2c 20 74  |etween CEEFAX, t|
000003a0  68 65 0d 0a 53 75 62 74  69 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73  |he..Subtitling s|
000003b0  65 72 76 69 63 65 20 66  6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68  |ervice for the h|
000003c0  65 61 72 69 6e 67 2d 69  6d 70 61 69 72 65 64 20  |earing-impaired |
000003d0  2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 20  74 68 65 20 42 42 43 0d  |- which the BBC.|
000003e0  0a 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f  20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 69  |.is also expandi|
000003f0  6e 67 20 2d 20 61 6e 64  20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67  |ng - and the hig|
00000400  68 6c 79 20 73 75 63 63  65 73 73 66 75 6c 20 44  |hly successful D|
00000410  61 74 61 0d 0a 42 72 6f  61 64 63 61 73 74 69 6e  |ata..Broadcastin|
00000420  67 20 64 69 76 69 73 69  6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 42 42  |g division of BB|
00000430  43 20 45 6e 74 65 72 70  72 69 73 65 73 2e 20 28  |C Enterprises. (|
00000440  49 6e 63 69 64 65 6e 74  61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68  |Incidentally, th|
00000450  65 0d 0a 27 4e 6f 20 4e  65 65 64 20 54 6f 20 53  |e..'No Need To S|
00000460  68 6f 75 74 27 20 73 65  63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f  |hout' section fo|
00000470  72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65  61 66 20 69 73 20 6e 6f  |r the deaf is no|
00000480  74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74  65 64 2e 29 0d 0a 0d 0a  |t affected.)....|
00000490  41 73 20 63 61 70 61 63  69 74 79 20 69 73 20 6c  |As capacity is l|
000004a0  69 6d 69 74 65 64 2c 20  73 75 63 68 20 61 6c 6c  |imited, such all|
000004b0  6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20  68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 62  |ocation has to b|
000004c0  65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6f  6e 0d 0a 74 68 65 20 62  |e made on..the b|
000004d0  61 73 69 73 20 6f 66 20  70 72 6f 76 69 64 69 6e  |asis of providin|
000004e0  67 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f  73 74 20 63 6f 73 74 20  |g the most cost |
000004f0  65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76  65 20 73 65 72 76 69 63  |effective servic|
00000500  65 73 20 74 6f 0d 0a 74  68 65 20 6d 61 78 69 6d  |es to..the maxim|
00000510  75 6d 20 6e 75 6d 62 65  72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f  |um number of peo|
00000520  70 6c 65 2e 20 0d 0a 0d  0a 54 45 4c 45 53 4f 46  |ple. ....TELESOF|
00000530  54 57 41 52 45 20 41 4e  44 20 45 44 55 43 41 54  |TWARE AND EDUCAT|
00000540  49 4f 4e 0d 0a 0d 0a 45  76 65 6e 20 62 65 66 6f  |ION....Even befo|
00000550  72 65 20 74 68 65 20 64  65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20  |re the decision |
00000560  61 62 6f 75 74 20 54 65  6c 65 73 6f 66 74 77 61  |about Telesoftwa|
00000570  72 65 20 77 61 73 20 74  61 6b 65 6e 2c 20 42 42  |re was taken, BB|
00000580  43 0d 0a 53 63 68 6f 6f  6c 73 20 54 65 6c 65 76  |C..Schools Telev|
00000590  69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77  68 6f 20 75 73 65 64 20  |ision, who used |
000005a0  74 68 65 20 73 65 72 76  69 63 65 20 61 73 20 61  |the service as a|
000005b0  20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f  66 0d 0a 64 69 73 74 72  | means of..distr|
000005c0  69 62 75 74 69 6e 67 20  70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d  |ibuting programm|
000005d0  65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 2c  20 68 61 64 20 64 65 63  |e notes, had dec|
000005e0  69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61  74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20  |ided that after |
000005f0  74 68 65 0d 0a 6e 65 78  74 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d  |the..next academ|
00000600  69 63 20 79 65 61 72 2c  20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f  |ic year, they wo|
00000610  75 6c 64 20 64 69 73 63  6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 20  |uld discontinue |
00000620  74 68 69 73 20 6d 65 74  68 6f 64 20 6f 66 0d 0a  |this method of..|
00000630  64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75  74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 63  |distribution bec|
00000640  61 75 73 65 20 73 6f 20  66 65 77 20 73 63 68 6f  |ause so few scho|
00000650  6f 6c 73 20 6e 6f 77 20  75 73 65 20 69 74 2c 20  |ols now use it, |
00000660  61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 0d  0a 64 75 70 6c 69 63 61  |and the..duplica|
00000670  74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20  65 66 66 6f 72 74 20 72  |tion of effort r|
00000680  65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20  63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f  |equired could no|
00000690  20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20  62 65 20 6a 75 73 74 69  | longer be justi|
000006a0  66 69 65 64 2e 0d 0a 0d  0a 49 74 20 69 73 20 61  |fied.....It is a|
000006b0  70 70 72 65 63 69 61 74  65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20  |ppreciated that |
000006c0  73 6f 6d 65 20 73 63 68  6f 6f 6c 73 20 68 61 76  |some schools hav|
000006d0  65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d  61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20  |e also made use |
000006e0  6f 66 0d 0a 73 6f 6d 65  20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20  |of..some of the |
000006f0  73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65  20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d  |software program|
00000700  73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 6d  69 74 74 65 64 20 62 79  |s transmitted by|
00000710  20 54 65 6c 65 73 6f 66  74 77 61 72 65 2e 0d 0a  | Telesoftware...|
00000720  42 75 74 20 77 69 74 68  20 74 68 65 20 65 78 63  |But with the exc|
00000730  65 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f  66 20 74 68 65 20 77 65  |eption of the we|
00000740  61 74 68 65 72 20 73 61  74 65 6c 6c 69 74 65 20  |ather satellite |
00000750  69 6d 61 67 65 0d 0a 74  72 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73  |image..transmiss|
00000760  69 6f 6e 20 28 71 2e 76  2e 29 2c 20 73 69 6d 69  |ion (q.v.), simi|
00000770  6c 61 72 20 70 72 6f 67  72 61 6d 73 20 2d 20 61  |lar programs - a|
00000780  6e 64 20 69 6e 20 6d 61  6e 79 20 63 61 73 65 73  |nd in many cases|
00000790  0d 0a 69 64 65 6e 74 69  63 61 6c 20 70 72 6f 67  |..identical prog|
000007a0  72 61 6d 73 20 2d 20 61  72 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c  |rams - are avail|
000007b0  61 62 6c 65 20 66 72 6f  6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20  |able from other |
000007c0  73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2e  0d 0a 0d 0a 54 49 4d 49  |sources.....TIMI|
000007d0  4e 47 20 4f 46 20 43 4c  4f 53 55 52 45 0d 0a 0d  |NG OF CLOSURE...|
000007e0  0a 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68  65 20 64 65 63 69 73 69  |.When the decisi|
000007f0  6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 2c  20 6f 6e 20 4a 75 6c 79  |on came, on July|
00000800  20 32 34 74 68 2c 20 6f  6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  | 24th, one of th|
00000810  65 20 66 61 63 74 6f 72  73 20 69 6e 0d 0a 74 68  |e factors in..th|
00000820  65 20 74 69 6d 69 6e 67  20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20  |e timing of its |
00000830  69 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e  74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77  |implementation w|
00000840  61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20  69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64  |as that it would|
00000850  20 62 65 20 62 65 74 74  65 72 0d 0a 74 6f 20 65  | be better..to e|
00000860  66 66 65 63 74 20 74 68  65 20 63 6c 6f 73 75 72  |ffect the closur|
00000870  65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65  20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78  |e before the nex|
00000880  74 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c  20 74 65 72 6d 20 73 74  |t school term st|
00000890  61 72 74 65 64 2c 0d 0a  74 68 65 72 65 62 79 20  |arted,..thereby |
000008a0  61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67  20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d  |avoiding problem|
000008b0  73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d  69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20  |s that might be |
000008c0  63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20  68 61 64 20 70 72 6f 67  |created had prog|
000008d0  72 61 6d 73 0d 0a 62 65  65 6e 20 73 74 61 72 74  |rams..been start|
000008e0  65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74  68 65 6e 20 6c 65 66 74  |ed and then left|
000008f0  20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 70 6c  65 74 65 2e 0d 0a 0d 0a  | incomplete.....|
00000900  54 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e  20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65  |The main conside|
00000910  72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20  68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c  |ration, however,|
00000920  20 77 61 73 20 72 65 6c  61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20  | was related to |
00000930  74 68 65 0d 0a 74 65 63  68 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 63  |the..technical c|
00000940  68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 6e  65 65 64 65 64 20 66 6f  |hanges needed fo|
00000950  72 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e  68 61 6e 63 65 6d 65 6e  |r the enhancemen|
00000960  74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  20 6d 61 69 6e 0d 0a 43  |t of the main..C|
00000970  45 45 46 41 58 20 73 65  72 76 69 63 65 73 2e 20  |EEFAX services. |
00000980  54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73  74 20 73 74 61 67 65 20  |The first stage |
00000990  6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20  69 73 20 74 69 65 64 20  |of this is tied |
000009a0  69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20  74 68 65 0d 0a 6c 61 75  |in with the..lau|
000009b0  6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 61  20 6e 65 77 20 73 74 79  |nch of a new sty|
000009c0  6c 65 20 6f 66 20 65 61  72 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 6e  |le of early morn|
000009d0  69 6e 67 20 74 65 6c 65  76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f  |ing television o|
000009e0  6e 20 42 42 43 31 20 69  6e 0d 0a 6d 69 64 2d 53  |n BBC1 in..mid-S|
000009f0  65 70 74 65 6d 62 65 72  2e 20 4f 6e 63 65 20 74  |eptember. Once t|
00000a00  68 65 20 64 65 63 69 73  69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 65  |he decision to e|
00000a10  6e 64 20 54 65 6c 65 73  6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20  |nd Telesoftware |
00000a20  68 61 64 0d 0a 62 65 65  6e 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 2c  |had..been taken,|
00000a30  20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77  65 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 73  | there were cons|
00000a40  69 64 65 72 61 62 6c 65  20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 73  |iderable savings|
00000a50  20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d  61 64 65 20 69 6e 0d 0a  | to be made in..|
00000a60  64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74  20 73 6f 6f 6e 65 72 20  |doing it sooner |
00000a70  72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74  68 61 6e 20 6c 61 74 65  |rather than late|
00000a80  72 2c 20 73 69 6e 63 65  20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e  |r, since the con|
00000a90  74 69 6e 75 61 74 69 6f  6e 20 6f 66 0d 0a 54 65  |tinuation of..Te|
00000aa0  6c 65 73 6f 66 74 77 61  72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65  |lesoftware for e|
00000ab0  76 65 6e 20 61 20 73 68  6f 72 74 20 70 65 72 69  |ven a short peri|
00000ac0  6f 64 20 62 65 79 6f 6e  64 20 53 65 70 74 65 6d  |od beyond Septem|
00000ad0  62 65 72 20 77 6f 75 6c  64 0d 0a 68 61 76 65 20  |ber would..have |
00000ae0  6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20  6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72  |made it necessar|
00000af0  79 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d  6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20  |y to commission |
00000b00  2d 20 61 74 20 61 64 64  69 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20  |- at additional |
00000b10  63 6f 73 74 20 2d 0d 0a  74 77 6f 20 76 65 72 73  |cost -..two vers|
00000b20  69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20  74 68 65 20 74 65 63 68  |ions of the tech|
00000b30  6e 69 63 61 6c 20 61 6e  64 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61  |nical and softwa|
00000b40  72 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67  65 73 20 72 65 71 75 69  |re changes requi|
00000b50  72 65 64 0d 0a 66 6f 72  20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77  |red..for the new|
00000b60  20 43 45 45 46 41 58 20  73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2e  | CEEFAX service.|
00000b70  0d 0a 0d 0a 54 45 4c 45  53 4f 46 54 57 41 52 45  |....TELESOFTWARE|
00000b80  20 49 4e 20 43 4f 4e 54  45 58 54 0d 0a 0d 0a 49  | IN CONTEXT....I|
00000b90  74 20 69 73 20 77 6f 72  74 68 20 72 65 6d 65 6d  |t is worth remem|
00000ba0  62 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74  68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20  |bering that the |
00000bb0  42 42 43 20 4d 69 63 72  6f 20 77 61 73 20 61 20  |BBC Micro was a |
00000bc0  63 6f 6e 73 65 71 75 65  6e 63 65 0d 0a 6f 66 20  |consequence..of |
00000bd0  74 68 65 20 43 6f 6d 70  75 74 65 72 20 4c 69 74  |the Computer Lit|
00000be0  65 72 61 63 79 20 50 72  6f 6a 65 63 74 20 73 74  |eracy Project st|
00000bf0  61 72 74 65 64 20 62 79  20 42 42 43 20 43 6f 6e  |arted by BBC Con|
00000c00  74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 0d  0a 45 64 75 63 61 74 69  |tinuing..Educati|
00000c10  6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68  65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20  |on in the early |
00000c20  38 30 73 2e 20 54 68 61  74 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63  |80s. That projec|
00000c30  74 20 61 63 68 69 65 76  65 64 20 69 74 73 20 61  |t achieved its a|
00000c40  69 6d 73 0d 0a 61 6e 64  20 68 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e  |ims..and has lon|
00000c50  67 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20  63 65 61 73 65 64 20 74  |g since ceased t|
00000c60  6f 20 62 65 20 61 63 74  69 76 65 2c 20 61 6c 74  |o be active, alt|
00000c70  68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 75  70 70 6f 72 74 20 66 6f  |hough support fo|
00000c80  72 0d 0a 74 68 65 20 42  42 43 20 4d 69 63 72 6f  |r..the BBC Micro|
00000c90  20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75  65 64 2e 20 54 65 6c 65  | continued. Tele|
00000ca0  73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65  20 77 61 73 20 64 65 76  |software was dev|
00000cb0  69 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20  70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 0d  |ised to provide.|
00000cc0  0a 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72  65 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72  |.software suppor|
00000cd0  74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  20 42 42 43 20 4d 69 63  |t to the BBC Mic|
00000ce0  72 6f 20 69 6e 20 74 68  65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20  |ro in the early |
00000cf0  64 61 79 73 2c 0d 0a 70  61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61  |days,..particula|
00000d00  72 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 72  65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20  |rly in relation |
00000d10  74 6f 20 45 64 75 63 61  74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f  |to Education pro|
00000d20  67 72 61 6d 6d 65 73 2e  20 49 74 20 68 61 73 0d  |grammes. It has.|
00000d30  0a 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20  62 65 65 6e 20 61 20 6d  |.always been a m|
00000d40  69 6e 6f 72 20 61 64 6a  75 6e 63 74 20 74 6f 2c  |inor adjunct to,|
00000d50  20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74  20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65  | and not an inte|
00000d60  67 72 61 6c 20 70 61 72  74 20 6f 66 2c 0d 0a 74  |gral part of,..t|
00000d70  68 65 20 42 42 43 27 53  20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 6d  |he BBC'S commitm|
00000d80  65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74  68 65 20 42 42 43 20 4d  |ent to the BBC M|
00000d90  69 63 72 6f 63 6f 6d 70  75 74 65 72 2e 0d 0a 0d  |icrocomputer....|
00000da0  0a 53 6f 6d 65 20 73 74  61 74 69 73 74 69 63 73  |.Some statistics|
00000db0  20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62  65 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69  | might be illumi|
00000dc0  6e 61 74 69 6e 67 2e 0d  0a 0d 0a 54 68 65 72 65  |nating.....There|
00000dd0  20 61 72 65 20 6d 6f 72  65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 36  | are more than 6|
00000de0  20 6d 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e  20 74 65 6c 65 74 65 78  | million teletex|
00000df0  74 20 73 65 74 73 20 69  6e 20 75 73 65 20 69 6e  |t sets in use in|
00000e00  20 55 4b 0d 0a 68 6f 6d  65 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68  | UK..homes, with|
00000e10  20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20  32 30 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69  | around 20 milli|
00000e20  6f 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20  |on people using |
00000e30  74 68 65 20 73 65 72 76  69 63 65 20 65 61 63 68  |the service each|
00000e40  0d 0a 77 65 65 6b 2e 0d  0a 0d 0a 54 68 65 20 6c  |..week.....The l|
00000e50  61 73 74 20 74 6f 74 61  6c 20 28 69 6e 20 4d 61  |ast total (in Ma|
00000e60  79 29 20 6f 66 20 73 61  6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74  |y) of sales of t|
00000e70  65 6c 65 74 65 78 74 20  61 64 61 70 74 6f 72 73  |eletext adaptors|
00000e80  20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 0d  0a 74 68 61 74 20 74 68  | showed..that th|
00000e90  65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65  20 6a 75 73 74 20 6f 76  |ere were just ov|
00000ea0  65 72 20 33 31 2c 35 30  30 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 6d  |er 31,500 in dom|
00000eb0  65 73 74 69 63 20 75 73  65 2e 20 4f 62 76 69 6f  |estic use. Obvio|
00000ec0  75 73 6c 79 0d 0a 73 6f  6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20  |usly..some more |
00000ed0  77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76  65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73  |will have been s|
00000ee0  6f 6c 64 20 73 69 6e 63  65 20 74 68 65 6e 20 2d  |old since then -|
00000ef0  20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 20  74 68 65 0d 0a 65 76 69  | but on the..evi|
00000f00  64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66  20 66 69 67 75 72 65 73  |dence of figures|
00000f10  20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e  65 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61  | from one manufa|
00000f20  63 74 75 72 65 72 2c 20  74 68 69 73 20 68 61 73  |cturer, this has|
00000f30  20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e  0d 0a 74 68 65 20 6c 6f  | been in..the lo|
00000f40  77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65  64 73 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c  |w hundreds, incl|
00000f50  75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68  65 20 49 42 4d 20 63 61  |uding the IBM ca|
00000f60  72 64 2e 0d 0a 0d 0a 41  74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f  |rd.....At the mo|
00000f70  73 74 20 67 65 6e 65 72  6f 75 73 20 69 6e 74 65  |st generous inte|
00000f80  72 70 72 65 74 61 74 69  6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68  |rpretation of th|
00000f90  65 20 66 69 67 75 72 65  73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20  |e figures, this |
00000fa0  69 73 0d 0a 6f 6e 6c 79  20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 37  |is..only about 7|
00000fb0  25 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61  74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20  |% of what might |
00000fc0  62 65 20 65 78 70 65 63  74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62  |be expected to b|
00000fd0  65 20 74 68 65 20 62 69  67 67 65 73 74 0d 0a 74  |e the biggest..t|
00000fe0  61 72 67 65 74 20 61 75  64 69 65 6e 63 65 20 2d  |arget audience -|
00000ff0  20 6f 77 6e 65 72 73 20  6f 66 20 42 42 43 20 4d  | owners of BBC M|
00001000  69 63 72 6f 73 2e 20 49  6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20  |icros. In other |
00001010  77 6f 72 64 73 2c 0d 0a  61 66 74 65 72 20 66 69  |words,..after fi|
00001020  76 65 20 79 65 61 72 73  2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74  |ve years, more t|
00001030  68 61 6e 20 39 30 25 20  6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70  |han 90% of the p|
00001040  65 6f 70 6c 65 20 66 6f  72 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 74  |eople for whom t|
00001050  68 65 0d 0a 73 65 72 76  69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20  |he..service was |
00001060  64 65 76 69 73 65 64 20  68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75  |devised have fou|
00001070  6e 64 20 69 74 20 6e 65  69 74 68 65 72 20 6e 65  |nd it neither ne|
00001080  63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20  6e 6f 72 0d 0a 61 74 74  |cessary nor..att|
00001090  72 61 63 74 69 76 65 2e  0d 0a 0d 0a 49 74 20 61  |ractive.....It a|
000010a0  6c 73 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e  73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66  |lso means that f|
000010b0  65 77 65 72 20 74 68 61  6e 20 30 2e 32 25 20 28  |ewer than 0.2% (|
000010c0  30 2e 31 37 25 29 20 6f  66 20 74 65 6c 65 74 65  |0.17%) of telete|
000010d0  78 74 20 75 73 65 72 73  0d 0a 61 63 74 75 61 6c  |xt users..actual|
000010e0  6c 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61  6e 20 61 64 61 70 74 6f  |ly own an adapto|
000010f0  72 20 2d 20 61 6e 64 20  61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d  |r - and at the m|
00001100  6f 73 74 20 67 65 6e 65  72 6f 75 73 20 65 73 74  |ost generous est|
00001110  69 6d 61 74 65 2c 0d 0a  30 2e 35 25 20 68 61 76  |imate,..0.5% hav|
00001120  65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73  20 74 6f 20 61 20 74 65  |e access to a te|
00001130  6c 65 74 65 78 74 20 61  64 61 70 74 6f 72 2e 20  |letext adaptor. |
00001140  54 68 69 73 2c 20 6f 66  20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c  |This, of course,|
00001150  0d 0a 61 73 73 75 6d 65  73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61  |..assumes that a|
00001160  6c 6c 20 61 64 61 70 74  6f 72 20 6f 77 6e 65 72  |ll adaptor owner|
00001170  73 20 2d 20 61 6e 64 20  74 68 65 69 72 20 65 6e  |s - and their en|
00001180  74 69 72 65 20 66 61 6d  69 6c 69 65 73 0d 0a 2d  |tire families..-|
00001190  20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c  79 20 75 73 65 20 69 74  | actually use it|
000011a0  20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77  65 65 6b 2e 0d 0a 0d 0a  | every week.....|
000011b0  54 68 65 20 64 65 70 61  72 74 6d 65 6e 74 27 73  |The department's|
000011c0  20 62 75 64 67 65 74 20  69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74  | budget is for t|
000011d0  68 65 20 62 65 6e 65 66  69 74 20 6f 66 20 41 4c  |he benefit of AL|
000011e0  4c 20 74 65 6c 65 74 65  78 74 0d 0a 75 73 65 72  |L teletext..user|
000011f0  73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74  68 65 20 61 6d 6f 75 6e  |s, and the amoun|
00001200  74 20 72 65 71 75 69 72  65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61  |t required to ma|
00001210  69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 74  68 65 20 54 65 6c 65 73  |intain the Teles|
00001220  6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 0d  0a 73 65 72 76 69 63 65  |oftware..service|
00001230  20 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74  20 31 30 25 20 2d 20 69  | - about 10% - i|
00001240  73 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75  73 6c 79 20 64 69 73 70  |s seriously disp|
00001250  72 6f 70 6f 72 74 69 6f  6e 61 74 65 20 74 6f 20  |roportionate to |
00001260  74 68 65 0d 0a 6e 75 6d  62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 70  |the..number of p|
00001270  6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c  20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 0d  |otential users..|
00001280  0a 0d 0a 53 4f 46 54 57  41 52 45 20 41 4e 44 20  |...SOFTWARE AND |
00001290  54 48 45 20 53 41 54 45  4c 4c 49 54 45 20 49 4d  |THE SATELLITE IM|
000012a0  41 47 45 0d 0a 0d 0a 57  69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20  |AGE....With the |
000012b0  65 78 63 65 70 74 69 6f  6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  |exception of the|
000012c0  20 4d 65 74 65 6f 73 61  74 20 69 6d 61 67 65 2c  | Meteosat image,|
000012d0  20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70  65 20 6f 66 0d 0a 73 6f  | the type of..so|
000012e0  66 74 77 61 72 65 20 74  68 61 74 20 68 61 73 20  |ftware that has |
000012f0  62 65 65 6e 20 74 72 61  6e 73 6d 69 74 74 65 64  |been transmitted|
00001300  20 62 79 20 74 68 69 73  20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65  | by this service|
00001310  20 69 73 20 62 79 20 6e  6f 0d 0a 6d 65 61 6e 73  | is by no..means|
00001320  20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 2c  20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  | unique, and the|
00001330  20 4d 65 74 65 6f 73 61  74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63  | Meteosat servic|
00001340  65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20  6e 6f 74 2c 20 69 6e 20  |e could not, in |
00001350  61 6e 79 0d 0a 65 76 65  6e 74 2c 20 68 61 76 65  |any..event, have|
00001360  20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6f  6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20  | been continued |
00001370  66 6f 72 20 6d 75 63 68  20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e  |for much longer.|
00001380  0d 0a 0d 0a 57 65 20 68  61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e  |....We have been|
00001390  20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64  20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20  | allowed access |
000013a0  74 6f 20 69 74 20 66 72  65 65 20 6f 66 20 63 68  |to it free of ch|
000013b0  61 72 67 65 20 62 79 20  74 68 65 20 4d 65 74 0d  |arge by the Met.|
000013c0  0a 4f 66 66 69 63 65 2c  20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65  |.Office, but the|
000013d0  79 20 68 61 76 65 20 61  64 76 69 73 65 64 20 75  |y have advised u|
000013e0  73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74  68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65  |s that they have|
000013f0  20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 74  6f 0d 0a 74 75 72 6e 20  | plans to..turn |
00001400  69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  61 20 63 6f 64 65 64 20  |it into a coded |
00001410  73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20  66 6f 72 20 74 72 61 6e  |service for tran|
00001420  73 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e  20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6c  |smission under l|
00001430  69 63 65 6e 63 65 2e 0d  0a 45 76 65 6e 20 69 66  |icence...Even if|
00001440  20 74 68 65 20 42 42 43  20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61  | the BBC could a|
00001450  66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f  20 73 75 62 73 63 72 69  |fford to subscri|
00001460  62 65 2c 20 69 74 20 69  73 20 64 6f 75 62 74 66  |be, it is doubtf|
00001470  75 6c 0d 0a 74 68 61 74  20 77 65 20 77 6f 75 6c  |ul..that we woul|
00001480  64 20 62 65 20 61 6c 6c  6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20  |d be allowed to |
00001490  70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 2c  20 66 72 65 65 20 6f 66  |provide, free of|
000014a0  20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20  74 6f 0d 0a 54 65 6c 65  | charge to..Tele|
000014b0  73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65  20 75 73 65 72 73 2c 20  |software users, |
000014c0  73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e  67 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65  |something anothe|
000014d0  72 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69  73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77  |r organisation w|
000014e0  69 73 68 65 73 20 74 6f  0d 0a 73 65 6c 6c 2e 0d  |ishes to..sell..|
000014f0  0a 0d 0a 54 68 61 74 20  61 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74  |...That aside, t|
00001500  68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65  20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c  |here are several|
00001510  20 77 61 79 73 20 28 61  70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f  | ways (apart fro|
00001520  6d 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c  0d 0a 63 6f 6d 6d 65 72  |m normal..commer|
00001530  63 69 61 6c 20 6f 75 74  6c 65 74 73 29 20 74 68  |cial outlets) th|
00001540  72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 68  69 63 68 20 42 42 43 20  |rough which BBC |
00001550  4d 69 63 72 6f 20 6f 77  6e 65 72 73 20 63 61 6e  |Micro owners can|
00001560  0d 0a 6f 62 74 61 69 6e  20 6f 72 20 73 77 61 70  |..obtain or swap|
00001570  20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20  69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74  | around informat|
00001580  69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20  73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65  |ion and software|
00001590  20 2d 20 6d 6f 73 74 0d  0a 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79  | - most..notably|
000015a0  20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e  64 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 67  | the kind of mag|
000015b0  61 7a 69 6e 65 73 20 61  6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 20  |azines and user |
000015c0  67 72 6f 75 70 73 20 74  6f 20 77 68 69 63 68 0d  |groups to which.|
000015d0  0a 6f 77 6e 65 72 73 20  6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f  |.owners of all o|
000015e0  74 68 65 72 20 6d 69 63  72 6f 73 20 28 77 68 6f  |ther micros (who|
000015f0  20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74  20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65  | haven't had the|
00001600  20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61  67 65 20 6f 66 0d 0a 61  | advantage of..a|
00001610  20 66 72 65 65 20 73 6f  66 74 77 61 72 65 20 64  | free software d|
00001620  65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20  73 65 72 76 69 63 65 29  |elivery service)|
00001630  20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6c  77 61 79 73 20 68 61 64  | have always had|
00001640  20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e  2e 0d 0a 0d 0a 49 6e 20  | to turn.....In |
00001650  73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 74  68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 75  |short, the closu|
00001660  72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  65 20 54 65 6c 65 73 6f  |re of the Teleso|
00001670  66 74 77 61 72 65 20 73  65 72 76 69 63 65 20 69  |ftware service i|
00001680  6e 20 6e 6f 20 77 61 79  0d 0a 63 75 74 73 20 6f  |n no way..cuts o|
00001690  66 66 20 76 69 74 61 6c  20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65  |ff vital supplie|
000016a0  73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 66  74 77 61 72 65 2c 20 6d  |s of software, m|
000016b0  65 72 65 6c 79 20 6f 6e  65 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20  |erely one means |
000016c0  6f 66 0d 0a 74 68 65 69  72 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65  |of..their delive|
000016d0  72 79 2e 0d 0a 0d 0a 50  55 42 4c 49 43 20 44 4f  |ry.....PUBLIC DO|
000016e0  4d 41 49 4e 2f 53 48 41  52 45 57 41 52 45 0d 0a  |MAIN/SHAREWARE..|
000016f0  0d 0a 43 72 69 74 69 63  73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  |..Critics of the|
00001700  20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79  20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 70  | quality and sop|
00001710  68 69 73 74 69 63 61 74  69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 54  |histication of T|
00001720  65 6c 65 73 6f 66 74 77  61 72 65 0d 0a 70 72 6f  |elesoftware..pro|
00001730  67 72 61 6d 73 20 2d 20  61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 72  |grams - and ther|
00001740  65 20 68 61 76 65 20 62  65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65  |e have been some|
00001750  20 2d 20 68 61 76 65 20  73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65  | - have suggeste|
00001760  64 20 74 68 61 74 0d 0a  74 68 65 20 73 65 72 76  |d that..the serv|
00001770  69 63 65 20 73 68 6f 75  6c 64 20 69 6e 63 6c 75  |ice should inclu|
00001780  64 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20  50 75 62 6c 69 63 20 44  |de more Public D|
00001790  6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 61 6e  64 20 53 68 61 72 65 77  |omain and Sharew|
000017a0  61 72 65 0d 0a 6d 61 74  65 72 69 61 6c 2e 20 55  |are..material. U|
000017b0  6e 66 6f 72 74 75 6e 61  74 65 6c 79 2c 20 77 68  |nfortunately, wh|
000017c0  69 6c 65 20 50 75 62 6c  69 63 20 44 6f 6d 61 69  |ile Public Domai|
000017d0  6e 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65  20 66 72 65 65 6c 79 0d  |n can be freely.|
000017e0  0a 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67  65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65  |.exchanged betwe|
000017f0  65 6e 20 69 6e 64 69 76  69 64 75 61 6c 73 2c 20  |en individuals, |
00001800  74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72  65 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69  |there are copyri|
00001810  67 68 74 20 70 72 6f 62  6c 65 6d 6e 73 0d 0a 77  |ght problemns..w|
00001820  68 69 63 68 20 72 65 71  75 69 72 65 20 74 68 65  |hich require the|
00001830  20 42 42 43 20 74 6f 20  73 65 65 6b 20 70 65 72  | BBC to seek per|
00001840  6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20  66 72 6f 6d 20 65 61 63  |mission from eac|
00001850  68 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72  20 74 6f 0d 0a 74 72 61  |h author to..tra|
00001860  6e 73 6d 69 74 20 74 68  65 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69  |nsmit the materi|
00001870  61 6c 20 2d 20 61 20 74  69 6d 65 2d 63 6f 6e 73  |al - a time-cons|
00001880  75 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 6e  64 20 63 6f 73 74 6c 79  |uming and costly|
00001890  20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73  2e 0d 0a 46 75 6c 6c 20  | process...Full |
000018a0  74 69 6d 65 20 73 74 61  66 66 20 77 6f 75 6c 64  |time staff would|
000018b0  20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f  20 62 65 20 65 6d 70 6c  | have to be empl|
000018c0  6f 79 65 64 20 74 6f 20  63 61 74 61 6c 6f 67 75  |oyed to catalogu|
000018d0  65 20 74 68 65 0d 0a 6d  61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 20  |e the..material |
000018e0  61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63  6b 20 65 61 63 68 20 69  |and check each i|
000018f0  74 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20  62 75 67 73 2c 20 61 6e  |tem for bugs, an|
00001900  64 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65  20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74  |d ensure that it|
00001910  20 69 73 0d 0a 6e 6f 74  20 61 20 70 69 72 61 74  | is..not a pirat|
00001920  65 20 63 6f 70 79 2c 20  66 6f 72 20 65 78 61 6d  |e copy, for exam|
00001930  70 6c 65 2e 0d 0a 0d 0a  53 68 61 72 65 77 61 72  |ple.....Sharewar|
00001940  65 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20  6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62  |e works on the b|
00001950  61 73 69 73 20 6f 66 20  74 72 75 73 74 20 2d 20  |asis of trust - |
00001960  74 68 61 74 20 74 68 6f  73 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66  |that those who f|
00001970  69 6e 64 0d 0a 74 68 65  20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d  |ind..the program|
00001980  73 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c  2c 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  |s useful, should|
00001990  20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20  73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63  | send a specific|
000019a0  20 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20  74 6f 20 74 68 65 0d 0a  | amount to the..|
000019b0  61 75 74 68 6f 72 2e 20  49 74 20 69 73 20 69 6d  |author. It is im|
000019c0  70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65  20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65  |possible for the|
000019d0  20 42 42 43 20 74 6f 20  6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 20  | BBC to monitor |
000019e0  77 68 6f 20 69 73 0d 0a  74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74  |who is..taking t|
000019f0  68 65 20 6d 61 74 65 72  69 61 6c 2c 20 77 68 6f  |he material, who|
00001a00  20 69 73 20 66 69 6e 64  69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 75  | is finding it u|
00001a10  73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 61  6e 64 20 77 68 65 74 68  |seful, and wheth|
00001a20  65 72 0d 0a 74 68 65 20  72 65 63 69 70 69 65 6e  |er..the recipien|
00001a30  74 20 69 73 20 70 61 79  69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20  |t is paying the |
00001a40  61 75 74 68 6f 72 2e 0d  0a 0d 0a 54 45 4c 45 54  |author.....TELET|
00001a50  45 58 54 20 41 44 41 50  54 4f 52 53 0d 0a 0d 0a  |EXT ADAPTORS....|
00001a60  49 74 20 69 73 20 72 65  67 72 65 74 61 62 6c 65  |It is regretable|
00001a70  20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68  6f 73 65 20 77 68 6f 20  | that those who |
00001a80  68 61 76 65 20 72 65 63  65 6e 74 6c 79 20 70 75  |have recently pu|
00001a90  72 63 68 61 73 65 64 0d  0a 74 65 6c 65 74 65 78  |rchased..teletex|
00001aa0  74 20 61 64 61 70 74 6f  72 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 66  |t adaptors now f|
00001ab0  69 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74  20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69  |ind that the mai|
00001ac0  6e 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e  20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61  |n reason for tha|
00001ad0  74 0d 0a 70 75 72 63 68  61 73 65 20 68 61 73 20  |t..purchase has |
00001ae0  67 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e  64 20 69 74 20 69 73 20  |gone, and it is |
00001af0  61 70 70 72 65 63 69 61  74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74  |appreciated that|
00001b00  20 69 74 20 69 73 20 6e  6f 0d 0a 63 6f 6e 73 6f  | it is no..conso|
00001b10  6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74  6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20  |lation to those |
00001b20  77 68 6f 20 61 63 74 65  64 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d  |who acted on som|
00001b30  65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65  |e of the more re|
00001b40  63 65 6e 74 0d 0a 63 6f  6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 70  |cent..computer p|
00001b50  72 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64  20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69  |ress and adverti|
00001b60  73 69 6e 67 20 73 74 61  74 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20  |sing statements |
00001b70  61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68  65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65  |about the future|
00001b80  0d 0a 6f 66 20 54 65 6c  65 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72  |..of Telesoftwar|
00001b90  65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73  75 63 68 20 73 74 61 74  |e that such stat|
00001ba0  65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 77  65 72 65 20 62 65 69 6e  |ements were bein|
00001bb0  67 20 6d 61 64 65 20 77  69 74 68 6f 75 74 0d 0a  |g made without..|
00001bc0  74 68 65 20 61 75 74 68  6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f 66  |the authority of|
00001bd0  20 74 68 65 20 42 42 43  2e 0d 0a 0d 0a 49 74 20  | the BBC.....It |
00001be0  73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61  6c 73 6f 20 62 65 20 6e  |should also be n|
00001bf0  6f 74 65 64 20 74 68 61  74 2c 20 63 6f 6e 74 72  |oted that, contr|
00001c00  61 72 79 20 74 6f 20 70  6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 6d  |ary to popular m|
00001c10  79 74 68 2c 20 6d 6f 73  74 0d 0a 6f 66 20 74 68  |yth, most..of th|
00001c20  65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61  72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20  |e software that |
00001c30  68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e  20 74 72 61 6e 73 6d 69  |has been transmi|
00001c40  74 74 65 64 20 6f 76 65  72 20 74 68 65 20 79 65  |tted over the ye|
00001c50  61 72 73 2c 0d 0a 77 68  69 6c 65 20 66 72 65 65  |ars,..while free|
00001c60  20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  54 65 6c 65 73 6f 66 74  | to the Telesoft|
00001c70  77 61 72 65 20 75 73 65  72 2c 20 68 61 73 20 68  |ware user, has h|
00001c80  61 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65  20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73  |ad to be purchas|
00001c90  65 64 0d 0a 62 79 20 74  68 65 20 42 42 43 2e 20  |ed..by the BBC. |
00001ca0  53 6f 2c 20 61 70 61 72  74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74  |So, apart from t|
00001cb0  68 6f 73 65 20 77 68 6f  20 75 6e 66 6f 72 74 75  |hose who unfortu|
00001cc0  6e 61 74 65 6c 79 20 70  75 72 63 68 61 73 65 64  |nately purchased|
00001cd0  0d 0a 61 6e 20 61 64 61  70 74 6f 72 20 76 65 72  |..an adaptor ver|
00001ce0  79 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74  6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20  |y recently, the |
00001cf0  76 61 73 74 20 6d 61 6a  6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f 66  |vast majority of|
00001d00  20 54 65 6c 65 73 6f 66  74 77 61 72 65 0d 0a 75  | Telesoftware..u|
00001d10  73 65 72 73 20 68 61 76  65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f  |sers have had mo|
00001d20  72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20  76 61 6c 75 65 20 66 6f  |re than value fo|
00001d30  72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e  20 49 74 20 69 73 2c 20  |r money. It is, |
00001d40  61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c  6c 2c 0d 0a 74 68 65 20  |after all,..the |
00001d50  6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 70  72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20  |normal practice |
00001d60  66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 70  75 74 65 72 20 75 73 65  |for computer use|
00001d70  72 20 67 72 6f 75 70 73  20 74 6f 20 6c 65 76 79  |r groups to levy|
00001d80  20 61 74 0d 0a 6c 65 61  73 74 20 61 6e 20 61 6e  | at..least an an|
00001d90  6e 75 61 6c 20 73 75 62  73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f  |nual subscriptio|
00001da0  6e 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c  70 20 66 75 6e 64 20 74  |n to help fund t|
00001db0  68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68  61 73 65 20 6f 66 0d 0a  |he purchase of..|
00001dc0  73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65  20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65  |software for the|
00001dd0  20 67 72 6f 75 70 20 2d  20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  | group - and the|
00001de0  72 65 20 69 73 20 75 73  75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 74  |re is usually at|
00001df0  20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 61  0d 0a 6e 6f 6d 69 6e 61  | least a..nomina|
00001e00  6c 20 63 68 61 72 67 65  20 74 6f 20 6d 65 6d 62  |l charge to memb|
00001e10  65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20  65 61 63 68 20 70 69 65  |ers for each pie|
00001e20  63 65 20 6f 66 20 73 6f  66 74 77 61 72 65 2e 0d  |ce of software..|
00001e30  0a 0d 0a 49 74 20 69 73  20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 75 74  |...It is not out|
00001e40  20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20  71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e  | of the question|
00001e50  2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65  72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20  |, however, that |
00001e60  73 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72  6d 20 6f 66 0d 0a 73 6f  |some form of..so|
00001e70  66 74 77 61 72 65 20 74  72 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73  |ftware transmiss|
00001e80  69 6f 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c  64 20 62 65 20 64 65 76  |ion could be dev|
00001e90  65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61  73 20 61 20 42 42 43 20  |eloped as a BBC |
00001ea0  44 61 74 61 63 61 73 74  0d 0a 73 75 62 73 63 72  |Datacast..subscr|
00001eb0  69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 73  65 72 76 69 63 65 20 66  |iption service f|
00001ec0  6f 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20  6d 69 63 72 6f 20 75 73  |or home micro us|
00001ed0  65 72 73 2c 20 61 63 63  65 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20  |ers, accessible |
00001ee0  77 69 74 68 0d 0a 65 78  69 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74  |with..existing t|
00001ef0  65 6c 65 74 65 78 74 20  61 64 61 70 74 6f 72 73  |eletext adaptors|
00001f00  2e 0d 0a 0d 0a 54 68 65  20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75  |.....The continu|
00001f10  61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66  20 77 68 61 74 20 68 61  |ation of what ha|
00001f20  73 20 62 65 65 6e 2c 20  69 6e 20 65 66 66 65 63  |s been, in effec|
00001f30  74 2c 20 61 20 66 72 65  65 0d 0a 73 6f 66 74 77  |t, a free..softw|
00001f40  61 72 65 20 64 65 6c 69  76 65 72 79 20 73 65 72  |are delivery ser|
00001f50  76 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20  61 20 27 75 73 65 72 20  |vice to a 'user |
00001f60  67 72 6f 75 70 27 20 72  65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74  |group' represent|
00001f70  69 6e 67 20 61 0d 0a 73  6d 61 6c 6c 20 70 65 72  |ing a..small per|
00001f80  63 65 6e 74 61 67 65 20  6f 66 20 65 6e 74 68 75  |centage of enthu|
00001f90  73 69 61 73 74 73 20 66  6f 72 20 61 20 70 61 72  |siasts for a par|
00001fa0  74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20  6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 6f 66  |ticular model of|
00001fb0  0d 0a 68 6f 6d 65 20 6d  69 63 72 6f 63 6f 6d 70  |..home microcomp|
00001fc0  75 74 65 72 20 69 73 20  61 20 6c 75 78 75 72 79  |uter is a luxury|
00001fd0  20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74  68 65 20 42 42 43 20 63  | which the BBC c|
00001fe0  61 6e 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f  6e 67 65 72 0d 0a 61 66  |an no longer..af|
00001ff0  66 6f 72 64 2e                                    |ford.|
00001ff5
25-08-89/closure.m0
25-08-89/closure.m1
25-08-89/closure.m2
25-08-89/closure.m4
25-08-89/closure.m5

© Dominic Ford 2021–2024.

Our privacy policy is here.
Last updated: 28 Jul 2024, 23:31 UTC
Website designed by .