Bits and Bytes
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2012) |
Bits and Bytes | |
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Written by | TVOntario |
Release | October 15, 1983 1991 | –
Related | |
The Computer Academy |
Bits and Bytes was the name of two Canadian educational
The first series, made in 1983, starred Luba Goy as the Instructor and Billy Van as the Student.[1] Bits and Bytes 2 was produced in 1991 and starred Billy Van as the Instructor and Victoria Stokle as the Student.[2] The Writer-Producers of both Bits and Bytes and Bits and Bytes 2 were Denise Boiteau & David Stansfield.
Title sequence
The intro sequence featured a montage of common computer terms such as "ERROR", "LOGO" and "ROM", as well as various snippets of simple computer graphics and video effects, accompanied by a theme song that very heavily borrows from the 1978 song "Neon Lights" by Kraftwerk.[3]
Series format
The first series featured an unusual presentation format whereby Luba Goy as the instructor would address Billy Van through a remote video link. The video link would appear to Luba who was seated in an office on a projection screen in front of her. She was then able to direct Billy, who appeared on a soundstage with various desktop computer setups of the era. Popular systems emphasized included the
. Each episode also included short animated vignettes to explain key concepts, as well as videotaped segments on various developments in computing.In 1983 TVOntario included the show's episodes as part of a correspondence course.[3] The original broadcasts on TVOntario also had a companion series, The Academy, that was scheduled immediately afterward in which Bits and Bytes technology consultant, Jim Butterfield, appeared as co-host to further elaborate on the concepts introduced in the main series.
Bits and Bytes 2
In the second Bits and Bytes series, produced almost a decade later, Billy Van assumed the role of instructor and taught a new female student. The new series focused primarily on IBM PC compatibles (i.e. Intel-based 286 or 386 computers) running DOS and early versions of Windows, as well as the newer and updated technologies of that era. For that series, a selection of the original's animated spots are reaired to illustrate fundamental computer technology principles along with a number of new spots to cover newly emerged concepts of computer technology such as advances in computer graphics and data management.
Although the possibility of a Bits and Bytes 3 was suggested at the end of the second series, TVOntario eventually elected instead to rebroadcast the Knowledge Network computer series, Dotto's Data Cafe, as a more economical and extensive production on the same subject.
Episodes (1983-84)
- Program 1: Getting Started
- Program 2: Ready-Made Programs
- Program 3: How Programs Work?
- Program 4: File & Data Management
- Program 5: Communication Between Computers
- Program 6: Computer Languages
- Program 7: Computer-Assisted Instruction
- Program 8: Games & Simulations
- Program 9: Computer Graphics
- Program 10: Computer Music
- Program 11: Computers at Work
- Program 12: What Next?
Episodes (1991)
- Program 1: Basics
- Program 2: Words
- Program 3: Numbers
- Program 4: Files
- Program 5: Messages
- Program 6: Pictures
Crew
- Original Music - Harry Forbes, George Axon
- Animation Voice - Fred Napoli
- Animation - Grafilm Productions Inc.
- Consultants - Jim Butterfield, David Humphreys, Mike H. Stein, Jo Ann Wilton
- Unit Manager - Rodger Lawson
- Production Editors - Michael Kushner, Paul Spencer, Brian Elston, Doug Beavan
- Production Assistant - George Pyron
- Executive Producer - Mike McManus
- Director - Stu Beecroft
- Written & Produced by - Denise Boiteau and David Stansfield
References
- ^ "News and New Products". The Transactor. 4 (2). Canadian Micro Distributors: 4–9, 32–33. 1983. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ Bits and Bytes 2, Victoria Stokle, Billy Van, retrieved 2017-12-26
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b "Six Toronto TV shows ahead of their time" Toronto Star, by Ed Conroy, March 25, 2016
External links
- TVOntario's official (but incomplete) archive of the original series via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine
- Complete archive of the original series on YouTube, including episodes and standalone clips of all of the animations and interviews
- Bits and Bytes at IMDb
- Bits and Bytes 2 at IMDb
- Fansite with more information about the show