Hello from Oxfordshire
Hello from Oxfordshire
Hello all,
My name is Chris, and yes I do like cycling
I've got a selection of Acorn machines from the model B to the RiscPC, also an Iyonix. I've used the Iyonix quite a bit since I bought it, but have only recently powered up the older machines... leading to me getting a crash course in replacing PSUs on the internet, and incidentally, discovering this forum.
I've got quite a bit of old software (Elite, the Hobbit, Red Moon, Philosopher's Quest etc), though probably nothing particularly obscure. Still working on a way to get the data off some old tapes.
My background is in IT and I wrote quite a bit of software to run on BBC machines back in the day, but all for bespoke purposes. This included computer assisted learning software for the physics department at Sheffield University back in the 80s (I'd be more than chuffed if someone here actually remembers using this!). I also wrote multimedia editing software for BBCs with proprietary hardware modifications to allow them to control industry standard video machines, back in the day.
Unfortunately, the arm based computers never really took off in the same way and I had to work on windows/linux machines for most of the rest of my career.
I'm now enjoying re-acquainting myself with a loft full of retro-tech, and dusting off some old software projects to see if there's anything worth a closer look.
Chris
My name is Chris, and yes I do like cycling
I've got a selection of Acorn machines from the model B to the RiscPC, also an Iyonix. I've used the Iyonix quite a bit since I bought it, but have only recently powered up the older machines... leading to me getting a crash course in replacing PSUs on the internet, and incidentally, discovering this forum.
I've got quite a bit of old software (Elite, the Hobbit, Red Moon, Philosopher's Quest etc), though probably nothing particularly obscure. Still working on a way to get the data off some old tapes.
My background is in IT and I wrote quite a bit of software to run on BBC machines back in the day, but all for bespoke purposes. This included computer assisted learning software for the physics department at Sheffield University back in the 80s (I'd be more than chuffed if someone here actually remembers using this!). I also wrote multimedia editing software for BBCs with proprietary hardware modifications to allow them to control industry standard video machines, back in the day.
Unfortunately, the arm based computers never really took off in the same way and I had to work on windows/linux machines for most of the rest of my career.
I'm now enjoying re-acquainting myself with a loft full of retro-tech, and dusting off some old software projects to see if there's anything worth a closer look.
Chris
- Multiwizard
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Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Hi Chris,
welcome to this great Forum...
Greetings from my little Dutch Atomic Attic, Wim...
welcome to this great Forum...
Greetings from my little Dutch Atomic Attic, Wim...
- flaxcottage
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Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Welcome, Chris.
You wouldn't still have copies of your educational stuff and be prepared to have it archived, would you?
You wouldn't still have copies of your educational stuff and be prepared to have it archived, would you?
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Welcome, we still find missing in action ROMs and other software fairly often, so you never know
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Welcome ... I'm interested in hearing more about the multimedia software you wrote, and what hardware modifications were required.
- Nigel
BBC Model B: ATPL Sidewise, Acorn Speech, 2xWatford Floppy Drives, AMX Mouse, Viglen case, BeebZIF, etc.
BBC Model B: ATPL Sidewise, Acorn Speech, 2xWatford Floppy Drives, AMX Mouse, Viglen case, BeebZIF, etc.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Thank you all for the kind welcome.
@flaxcottage
I'm pretty sure I never had a copy at home, though I do have a hundred or so discs to look through to check, so you never know. If I do find any I'll let you know.
@Pernod
The system was called Take That, if I remember correctly and was a fairly comprehensive interactive video authoring and playback system, based on a BBC Micro paired with a industrial video player in a rugged case. I used to have a brochure but I think that got lost in a 'loft purge'. We would call it multimedia now I suppose. Basically it allowed you to author text screens and interleave these with video clips, as well as combining the two.
It was mostly written in Basic when I started working on it and I converted a lot of this to assembler routines which we could put in a rom. This saved space, which allowed us to use larger screen modes (memory was always in short supply!) and to superimpose graphics as well as text on the video stream.
The hardware was designed elsewhere. It allowed us to merge the video output from the BBC and a large format video player, as well as providing control over the player itself via a bunch of relays which were revealed as addresses in BBC memory. I can't remember exactly how they were attached, sorry!
The company was quite well known for software (google Ivan Berg Software) but I can't find any reference to the interactive video system online, alas. This was all long before the web of course.
@flaxcottage
I'm pretty sure I never had a copy at home, though I do have a hundred or so discs to look through to check, so you never know. If I do find any I'll let you know.
@Pernod
The system was called Take That, if I remember correctly and was a fairly comprehensive interactive video authoring and playback system, based on a BBC Micro paired with a industrial video player in a rugged case. I used to have a brochure but I think that got lost in a 'loft purge'. We would call it multimedia now I suppose. Basically it allowed you to author text screens and interleave these with video clips, as well as combining the two.
It was mostly written in Basic when I started working on it and I converted a lot of this to assembler routines which we could put in a rom. This saved space, which allowed us to use larger screen modes (memory was always in short supply!) and to superimpose graphics as well as text on the video stream.
The hardware was designed elsewhere. It allowed us to merge the video output from the BBC and a large format video player, as well as providing control over the player itself via a bunch of relays which were revealed as addresses in BBC memory. I can't remember exactly how they were attached, sorry!
The company was quite well known for software (google Ivan Berg Software) but I can't find any reference to the interactive video system online, alas. This was all long before the web of course.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
I've heard of Ivan Berg, but not the Take Five system, I will do some research. Presume you don't still have any ROMs/software for it?Cyclinguy wrote: ↑Sat Nov 11, 2023 10:52 am @Pernod
The system was called Take That, if I remember correctly and was a fairly comprehensive interactive video authoring and playback system, based on a BBC Micro paired with a industrial video player in a rugged case. I used to have a brochure but I think that got lost in a 'loft purge'. We would call it multimedia now I suppose. Basically it allowed you to author text screens and interleave these with video clips, as well as combining the two.
The company was quite well known for software (google Ivan Berg Software) but I can't find any reference to the interactive video system online, alas. This was all long before the web of course.
Last edited by Pernod on Sat Nov 11, 2023 2:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Nigel
BBC Model B: ATPL Sidewise, Acorn Speech, 2xWatford Floppy Drives, AMX Mouse, Viglen case, BeebZIF, etc.
BBC Model B: ATPL Sidewise, Acorn Speech, 2xWatford Floppy Drives, AMX Mouse, Viglen case, BeebZIF, etc.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
"Video from Ivan Berg", Acorn User, May 1986.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Well spotted, though the article is more about the Acorn option really.
And it was Take Five not Take That!
For some reason I remember the case including the keyboard in the lid. Maybe that was a later version. Of course betamax was technically the superior technology...
And it was Take Five not Take That!
For some reason I remember the case including the keyboard in the lid. Maybe that was a later version. Of course betamax was technically the superior technology...
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
@pernod
I wasn't supposed to take stuff home, unfortunately, so I'm pretty sure I don't have a copy of any of the software, but I do have a lot of discs to go through... Of course, even if I found a copy, it wouldn't do much without the hardware.
I wasn't supposed to take stuff home, unfortunately, so I'm pretty sure I don't have a copy of any of the software, but I do have a lot of discs to go through... Of course, even if I found a copy, it wouldn't do much without the hardware.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Hardware can be emulated!
- Nigel
BBC Model B: ATPL Sidewise, Acorn Speech, 2xWatford Floppy Drives, AMX Mouse, Viglen case, BeebZIF, etc.
BBC Model B: ATPL Sidewise, Acorn Speech, 2xWatford Floppy Drives, AMX Mouse, Viglen case, BeebZIF, etc.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
@pernod
I guess so. I think the interface on the Beebs side was visible as a byte or two in memory space with the bits setting various relays on a genlock board. Nothing particularly sophisticated. Please don't get your hopes up though, as we are talking 35 years and several house moves ago and as I said before, no particular reason why I would have taken software home with me!
I guess so. I think the interface on the Beebs side was visible as a byte or two in memory space with the bits setting various relays on a genlock board. Nothing particularly sophisticated. Please don't get your hopes up though, as we are talking 35 years and several house moves ago and as I said before, no particular reason why I would have taken software home with me!
- daveejhitchins
- Posts: 7888
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Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Welcome to the Forum, Chris . . . Enjoy . . .
Dave H.
Dave H.
Available: ARA II : ARA III-JR/PR : ABR : AP5 : AP6 : ABE : ATI : MGC : Plus 1 Support ROM : Plus 3 2nd DA : Prime's Plus 3 ROM/RAM : Pegasus 400 : Prime's MRB : ARCIN32 : Cross-32
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Hello Chris, I too am in Oxfordshire (Didcot) where there is a relatively healthy retro-community. If you're ever looking for something here in Oxfordshire give me a PM and maybe I can help.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Hello Chris! welcome to this great community!
I am also located in Oxfordshire. (near Watlington)
about an hour away is the national museum of computing, which is a great place to visit if you like retro tech.
I do hope your beeb hasn't taken up smoking! if it has, you should be able to replace the caps quite easily (if your good with a solder) or mark from retroclinic should be able to refurbish it for you.
its cool to hear about more software that has been developed.
anyway have a good day!
I am also located in Oxfordshire. (near Watlington)
about an hour away is the national museum of computing, which is a great place to visit if you like retro tech.
I do hope your beeb hasn't taken up smoking! if it has, you should be able to replace the caps quite easily (if your good with a solder) or mark from retroclinic should be able to refurbish it for you.
its cool to hear about more software that has been developed.
anyway have a good day!
-Elliot
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
Lover of all things acorn, but especially the 8 bits!
- bbc b issue 7 with econet- electron issue 2 - microvitec cub 653 - a420/1 -
i like to use as much original hardware as possible, and only use disk and tapes!
-
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Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Hello Chris, another retro-collector here from Oxford. Welcome to the forum.
Re: Hello from Oxfordshire
Hi Chris,
I just posted my "Hello" in "introduce yourself" and thought I scroll down to see if I could find anyone else from Oxfordshire and found not just yourself but 3 others who replied to your post
Regards
Arthur
I just posted my "Hello" in "introduce yourself" and thought I scroll down to see if I could find anyone else from Oxfordshire and found not just yourself but 3 others who replied to your post
Regards
Arthur