[tv show] BBC Horizon from 1978- Now The Chips Are Down

[Dos_Box]

This is rather wonderful, an edition of Horizon from 1978 all about the impact of the microprocessor: BBC iPlayer - Horizon - 1977-1978: Now The Chips Are Down

Especially it's impact on industry and human jobs.

Edited April 13, 2015 by elsiegee40

[elsiegee40]

Absolutely fascinating on many fronts. There's the "history of computing" bit showing the development of chip technology.

 

Then there's the changes to working practice predictions: sending documents electronically, union opposition to automation, the demise of employment in manufacturing industry, the rise of software developers and the rich-poor divide.

[Dos_Box]

I was rather shocked to see the 75% failure rate for newly produced chips!

The talk at the end about discussing everything with the unions as regards the modernisation and automation of jobs was very interesting. Especially as our industry was producing increasingly poor products made my hand in strike ridden industies when moden production lines in other parts of the world were making far superior products at far lower costs.

Will make a great discussion now we have 37 years of hindsight to play with

[tmcd35]

I saw this a few months back. Definately eye opening and great to watch as someone who works in IT and has the benefit of, as @Dos_Box says, 37 years hindsight.

 

Just did a quick google search and current production yelds are estimated to hover around 60% so only a 40% failure rate now - progress! Still no paperless office though...

[elsiegee40]

I was rather shocked to see the 75% failure rate for newly produced chips!

The talk at the end about discussing everything with the unions as regards the modernisation and automation of jobs was very interesting. Especially as our industry was producing increasingly poor products made my hand in strike ridden industies when moden production lines in other parts of the world were making far superior products at far lower costs.

Will make a great discussion now we have 37 years of hindsight to play with

 

Yes the unions were not happy about the risk to manufacturing jobs. It was interesting to see how the interviewer did not seem to be able to grasp that income earned from software development would be every bit as real to the economy as manufacturing income. And this demand for protection of Solid State!

 

The was also the bit about the medical scanner being the only example of its type. It seems that many were struggling with the imagination about how the silicon revolution could take hold.