Block Party - Teletext 50 (21st & 22nd September 2024)
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Description : Teletext - as timeless as physical buttons.In the beginning, the entire teletext scene could fit in one classroom. By the 1990s, most of the UK used it for news, sports, and other facts. Then the internet grew, and exploded, scattering useful information into a monetised morass of speculation. Now we're back in the classroom, and we're going to party like it's 1974. What's on?Standard museum entry also grants you access to our displays, hands-on exhibits, and talks. Saturday is our busy day, packed with special guests, and finishing late with the mid-party afterparty. Sunday is our relaxed day, for creations, technical presentations, artistic celebrations, and lingering headaches. You are welcome to drop in and browse, or take a seat for the following events. Saturday 21st September
Sunday 22nd September
Who are we?Carl AttrillFrom TeletextR, via the Sofa Club, to Byte High No Limit, perennial MC Carl is one tube of the epoxy resin mix that binds the social side of teletext. An experienced presenter, who knows exactly when to shut up and let the guests talk. Cuban BoysThey upset Chris Richard and threatened the integrity of daytime radio. Fame came and went before they could set fire to a £50 note, so they carried on regardless. We're still not quite sure what brings them to Cambridge, though probably some combination of mischief, obstinacy, Planet Sound, and Carl's impromptu wooing. Alistair CreeCreator of the most popular online teletext editor. Always there to assist with software and soldering requests, and quite the teletext artist. Has yet to determine how many CRTs is too many. Nathan DaneOldies may remember when Children's BBC used to say goodbye to Northern Ireland, just before Neighbours. Nathan claims not to have been alive then, yet owns more broadcast equipment than the Broom Cupboard. However, our suspicions are entirely baseless, according to his popular teletext service. Dan FarrimondDan is the other tube of scene-glue, keeping teletext alive from the Tate to Wigan since 2015. Not seen in person since our ill-considered "Spookulele" broadcast, his electronic presence remains constant, like a soft-focus Max Headroom with worse latency. Steve HorsleySteve used to be a graphic designer in the ads department at Teletext Limited. Having tired of palm trees, and clients who thought that "all of them, flashing" was a colour scheme, Steve now draws teletext portraits for fun. Thousands of them. Literally. Ian IrvingFor effective visual communication, you need a good grasp of framing, typography, anatomy, and perspective. Now try the same in 78 by 72 pixels, animated. Ian's ability is matched only by his modesty, and the distance he is travelling to be pleasantly bewildered that his work is still remembered, and celebrated. Tony JewellTony is, once again, the museum volunteer leading all the meetings and logistics which make this event possible. He will probably bring along something for the videotex fans, and a Dragon 32 for himself. Peter KwanPeter once sent a colourful flexi-disc of Chinese operatic propaganda to John Peel, who played it without hesitation. When Ceefax was switched off in 2012, Peter made his own version, Teefax, demonstrating a similar indifference to audience metrics. Graham LovelaceIntrigued by teletext since childhood, Graham became a journalist before joining Ceefax. Having made Teletext a household name, he saw that the web browser could change everything. However, the shareholders preferred to milk their cash cow, so he now works in corporate events, where brevity and accuracy remain valued. Jason RobertsonThe most comprehensive curator of teletext, who also dispels the mystique of recovering it from old video tapes. Software engineering, astrophysics, event organisation, drums - you know the type. Paul RoseWhat's that, Sooty? The award-winning children's television writer, also responsible for a popular daily videogames magazine, is coming to Cambridge, with Sanja? Why, that's almost as exciting as the Granada Studios Tour! Mort SmithLike Graham, but joined Ceefax at the start. Took teletext to Chicago, returned to lead Intelfax, then swapped the pressure for a motorbike, as technology outpaced another company. Can still draw pixel graphics in text mode. Yourself?We have room for more exhibitors and panellists, including from the wider videotex scene. Just ask, and we'll find the right space for you. More informationJason will answer your questions here, with substantial updates filtering through to his event page. The wider teletext scene survives on Discord, and other fragments of social media.
Remember - All proceeds go to support our Computing Museum! |
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