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BBC Returns To Making Computers For Schools

Posted by timothy on from the as-it-ever-was dept.

Raging Bool writes According to the BBC News website, the BBC is returning to producing comparatively inexpensive computers for schools. Readers of sufficient age will remember the BBC Model B with great affection. But won't this be in competition with other pre-existing devices such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi? The BBC says not: "The BBC does not see Micro Bit as a rival to similar devices such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Galileo and Kano, but rather hopes it will act as a 'springboard' to these more complex machines." I hope they're at least consulting with Eben Upton.

3 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Became ARM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actually it was Acorn Computers that made the BBC model B. They went on to make a RISC processor, ARM, the most successful processor sold by unit volume. The one in your smartphone and TV box and car and Raid and router and and and and ....

    All possible because the BBC decided to pump money into a computer back in the 80's when the computer industry was a hobby.

  2. Re:this is what the BBC is all about? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sarcasm aside, yes it is.

  3. Re:A News Agency is making Computers? by dave420 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The BBC is not a news agency, it is a public broadcaster which has a charter it must abide by. It is not owned by the British Government. According to its charter, it has 6 public purposes:

    1. 1. Sustaining citizenship and civil society
    2. 2. Promoting education and learning
    3. 3. Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence
    4. 4. Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities
    5. 5. Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK
    6. 6. Delivering to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services

    This initiative falls squarely under #2 (and arguably under #6), similar to how the BBC helped popularise home computers in the 1980s, which as a nice side-benefit created the ARM processor and raked in all sorts of money for the UK government.

    You might want to understand what's being discussed before getting all internet-outrage-y and demonstrating your ignorance on the topic ;)