Early internet | Viewdata | information retrieval service | Magpie | 1976

'Magpie' presenter Mick Robertson takes a look at the latest way of getting information down the telephone line straight to your TV Screens - Viewdata developed by the post office.
First shown: 09/03/1976
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Quote: VT13336

[@LuisGonzalez-pw7rl]

The future is now!! Thanks Thames Tv, for this moments!!

[@DaraM73]

I actually prefer this than what we have now. A virtually unregulated overly powerful private information gathering machine.

[@Spookieham]

Viewdata was not internet - really just a large BBS. I used it for banking with a computer in 1994 in Scotland. The TV version was not that popular but was very technically similar to Teletext. It was popular for many years with Travel Agents who used it for holiday bookings.

[@original.dwornboy]

This was 18 years before 1994 and a great historical clip. You sound like you got out of the wrong side of the bed.

[@primalconvoy]

Except that, in terms of use, both it and Teletext were a sort of interactive, read-only "proto-internet", so I don't think the title is inaccurate.

[@Will-nn6ux]

@@primalconvoy It really isn't the internet, but it's still cool seeing people in the past using technologies like this in ways they would later use the internet.

[@nkt1]

@@original.dwornboy Bank of Scotland’s HOBS system was launched in 1985, so rather less than 19 years later.

[@OneSwitch]

Brilliant. The peaceful internet.

[@trevorrandom]

Please full episodes of these shows 👍

[@snowymatrix]

In Ipswich of all places in UK I would not have guessed there! 😂

[@glpilpi6209]

BT has a big research centre at Martlesham just down the road .

[@MrDannyDetail]

1:36 Wait did they pronounce Monaco differently in those days? Or has Mick just not heard of that country before?

[@CallMeMrRook]

Lmao..... Man Arco

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

He said it right, Mnaaco.

[@sanchog5704]

Bring back Ceefax!!

[@trabali5168]

or teletext!

[@M500VYN]

“This information thing”

[@jamesisabeastieboysfan]

Interwebz by remote?
What’s next, WebTV?

[@DanCarlN1]

I prefer the name View Data better than the Internet, makes you think twice before clicking on that video on Youporn

[@ferglesnerk]

I thought that was Liverpool's Kevin Keegan.

[@liverush24]

Magpie's Keegan/Brian May hybrid.

[@liverush24]

They've got computers in Ipswich!

[@richpeacock]

I used to love seeing that Thames TV ident & bing bongs. Now I haven’t watched TV for ten years.

[@larrygerry985]

Interesting fact, first naked pic was posted in 1977

[@MegaALEXLOUIS]

My friends, this isn't the early internet. He said over a million pages of information but didn't mention pornography?

[@Flughafenkaiser]

This looks really complicated stuff. Id never get used to such technolocal advancements involving pressing buttons on instruments etc. Would there be training workshops ? You would have to go to university to understand. Nice colour television though.

[@CallMeMrRook]

0:23 "this information thing" ... quite a salesman our Mick, I'm sold when can i have access the Thing? WTF...NOooo..thats not my TV, its some sort of clone....BURN IT.. burn the TV

[@TheStevenWhiting]

It was kids TV

[@solarr2]

👍🇵🇱🇵🇱👍👍🤘

[@jeshkam]

This guy looks either like the young Brian May or John Illsley from Dire Straits.

[@manatee2500]

1st

[@richardtheeighth4431]

👍🥇😄

[@jareknowak8712]

....what happened with Basshead?

[@richardtheeighth4431]

@@jareknowak8712
The last confirmed sighting of basshead was on January 29, 2021.
MIA.🪖📮

[@jareknowak8712]

@@richardtheeighth4431
Alien abduction?
Again?

[@simonba9944]

🏅🏅🏅