Byte High no Limit

Dan Farrimond and myself discuss the evolution of techlores, originating from copiers to fax machine then to our beloved media of choice!   But how many lores are there?    Music from Mr Nissneness (as in Business) mrnissness.bandcamp.com Wayne Dreaden @WJD2owls    Thanks as ever to @illarterate Dan for hosting with me.   Want to join in on the discords? message me @teletextR Help me with the pod...

A super special episode where I talk to Frauke Langguth about ARD Text, A real live teletext service!  The service runs in Germany on the National broadcaster ARD. Frauke explains how she got involved with teletext, what the service delivers and the possible futures of the technology.   It was an absolute pleasure to speak with Frauke, you can visits the service at ard-text.de   If you can and wis...

Before the Home computers became ubiquitous and a technology we can not live without, they were hobbies and self built projects assembled by the luminaries home computing.   This episode looks at the origins of kit computers in the US, the TV Typewriter; the  UK the MK14, System 1 and 101 and Yugoslavia with it's embargo busting Galaksija. The show includes recollections of the users of these mach...

I had the privilege to interview the very person that, unbeknown to him, started my journey in teletext art and with it, the friendships I built with many other like minded folk.   Paul's one and only online teletext project had far reaching influences on many of us and I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I have had in making them all so far.   If you can and wish to, please give...

Oracle's Buzz! Magazine was the first  tech, teen culture and music magazine of it's kind. It's interactive nature was a major influence on many  that viewed the electronic magazine one who went on to make services themselves! (Mr Biffo- see previous episode!)   Join us as we talk about Debbie's Dairy, Buzz! and plenty more! Keep updated, join the discord!     If you can and wish to, please give m...

In her glittering career, Sara Scott-Rivers worked extensively with both Viewdata and teletext.  Following designer-editor roles with Prestel in the 1980s, she joined Teletext Ltd prior to its launch in 1993.   Sara was kind enough to share her recollections of working with the blocky mediums with me in this podcast series.    Keep updated, joint the discord!     If you can and wish to, please giv...

Byte High no Limit is a series about all aspects of Technological history and it's social connections. Fans of the teletext series should not despair as there will be more interviews on the way, In the meantime here is an update of the channel and and item I recorded about WE ARE INSTAR, an art collective that are exhibiting in my childhood town of Jaywick in Essex.   As mentioned - I have a disco...

Paul Rose is a BAFTA nominated  writer for Children's TV and also writes for Mainstream Adult audience programming. He is fondly remembered and held in high regard for his work on Teletext Ltd's Digitiser Magazine as Mr Biffo which he launched 30 years ago! Paul very kindly spoke to me about his time at teletext, his motivations and what he is doing now.   If you can and wish to, please give me a...

Probably one of the BBC computer's killer Apps, Elite started a series of games that continue today.   Acorn Nut Mark Moxon decided that this iconic game needed a port to the teletext medium and in this episode he explains his motivations an experiences of creating this wonderfully playable adaption.   You can play the game yourself here. https://www.bbcelite.com/hacks/teletext_elite.html     If y...

The Teletext revival is a shop window, but without the goods in the stock room nothing can happen. Alistair's ZX Net Teletext editor and online Viewers have been the glue that enables artists, archivists and new services to make their concepts a reality.   We discuss how it all happened and what projects are on the go at the moment. I love making these episodes, if you want to help me with hosting...

Dan's interest in teletext art was a spring board for many other artists who have adopted this medium to express their artwork long after it's greatly exaggerated demise. Part of the 'TeletextR' movement, he has been instrumental in the high profile that the blocky medium enjoys today in the media.    I love making these episodes, if you want to help me with hosting costs, a KoFi will go a long wa...

In this episode, we find out how Jason developed a way of restoring lost teletext from tape,  how he found long lost services and a curious Audio service that was hidden in plain sight from millions of UK television viewers.   If you want to support the Podcast, please do you can buy me a KoFi Here   You can Contact me on My Twitter Or email sunspotstories@gmail.com  

Ian Irving was one the medium's first ever recognised artist and is cited as a contemporary of many pixel artists who used the format.   Ian tells us his story of working at Ceefax then moving to Intelfax and 4-Tel.  Ian also worked on a ground breaking project for deaf children 'Hands Up!' on Channel four was a completely unique programme that can be viewed on YouTube.    If you want to support t...

Graham worked at CEEFAX at the beginning of the 1990s and was given the opportunity to run a new teletext service for commercial TV just after the biggest shake up of television regulations in the UK at the time. He explains how he manged to get the service going and make a success of it, then foresee the trouble coming down the pipe from non- broadcast competition and the attempts to adapt.    to...

Ian shares with us stories of how he became the last editor of Ceefax before is merger with the BBC web based service. Sport was one of the most popular services on Ceefax and there are a few tales of sackings of Football managers and match winners that would not of occurred had it not been for Ceefax.  I love making these episodes, if you want to help me with hosting costs, a KoFi will go a long...

Russia 1991, the Soviet Union is collapsing, A chance meeting with engineers at a Moscow TV tower results in Steve becoming in charge Russia's first teletext services. Steve explains his love for the medium and shares his recollections of running a teletext system during volatile times of the Eastern Bloc. If you want to support the Podcast, please do you can buy me a KoFi Here You can Contact me...

In the early 1970s Mort was the first BBC news Sub Editor to work on the new service called CEEFAX. He moved to the USA to start Chicago's Keyfax and then later returned to Blighty to run C4's upstart service 4TEL     I was privileged to speak with Mort and Julie  to record their experiences working at all these teletext services.   If you want to support the Podcast, please do you can buy me a Ko...

Sunspot Stories is the series where I recall the people, history & machines of my favourite arcade. This Episode I revisit Gremlin's Depthcharge and look into its gameplay.

In this episode I catch up with my childhood friend Mark Parker. Mark played the machines in the Sunspot and when leaving school, embarked on an interesting career in the video games industry for Eidos & I.O. interactive. He is now Producer, Writer and Partner at The Bearded Ladies who are responsible for the highly rated Mutant Year Zero and The much anticipated Myasma Chronicles. Mark talks to m...

What does a demolished amusement arcade in Jaywick, A Grade two building in Harrow and W.H. Smith have in common? I speak to Professor Bruce Peter of the Glasgow School of Art to find out about the man who designed the most awesome building of my childhood.