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Computing Britain

Computing Britain: Episode 1: Electronic Brains

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Episode 1

Episode 1: Electronic Brains

Electronic Brains

BBC Radio 4 - Computing Britain, Electronic Brains

Hannah Fry travels back to the 1940s to hear the story of the creation of computer memory.

Hannah Fry travels back to the 1940s to hear the incredible story of the creation, in Britain, of computer memory.

From the mobile phone to the office computer, mathematician Hannah Fry looks back at 70 years of computing history, to reveal the UK's lead role in developing the technology we use today.

In the first episode, she travels back to the 1940s, to hear the incredible story of the creation, in Britain, of the computer memory.

Three teams from across the country - in Teddington, Manchester and Cambridge - were tasked with designing automatic calculating engines for university research. But which team would be first to crack the tricky problem of machine memory?

Meanwhile, tabloid headlines proclaimed that engineers were building 'electronic brains' that could match, and maybe surpass, the human brain, starting a debate about automation and artificial intelligence that still resonates today.

Featuring archive from the Science Museum and the BBC Library, plus an interview with technology historian Dr James Sumner from Manchester University.

Presented by Hannah Fry

Produced by Michelle Martin

Photo: Maurice Wilkes and Bill Renwick with EDSAC
Credit: Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Hannah Fry reveals the UK's lead role in developing computer technologies we rely on today

Hannah Fry looks back at 75 years of computing history to reveal the UK's lead role in developing the technologies we rely on today

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Computing Britain

Episode 1: Electronic Brains

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