Bits and Bytes was the name for two Canadian television series, starring Billy Van, who teaches people the basics of how to use a computer. The first series debuted in 1983 and the second series, called Bits and Bytes 2, in 1991. The first series also included popular comedian Luba Goy as the instructor to Van. The intro sequence featured a montage of common computer terms such as "ERROR", "LOGO" and "ROM", as well as various snippets of simple computer graphics and video effects, accompanied by a theme song that very heavily borrows from the 1978 song Neon Lights by Kraftwerk. The series were produced by TVOntario. The Writer-Producers of Both Bits and Bytes and Bits and Bytes 2 were Denise Boiteau & David Stansfield. The original series featured an unusual presentation format whereby Luba Goy as the instructor would address Billy Van through a remote video link. The video link would appear to Luba who was seated in an office on a projection screen in front of her. She was then able to direct Billy who appeared on a soundstage with various desktop computer setups of the era. Popular systems emphasized included the Atari 800, Commodore PET, Tandy TRS-80, and Apple II. Each episode also included short animated vignettes to explain key concepts, as well as videotaped segments on various developments in computing. In the new 1991 series, Billy Van assumed the role of instructor and taught a new female student. As a decade had passed, the new series focused primarily on IBM PC compatibles running DOS and earlier versions of Windows, as well as the newer and updated technologies of that era.
Getting Started
Feb 16, 1983
The basic introduction for computer operations and the most fundamental concepts of computers are discussed.
Ready-Made Programs
Feb 23, 1983
The basic concepts of how to load and use software and how the computer uses it internally are discussed.
How Programs Work
Mar 2, 1983
The basic nature and mechanics of computer programming are explained.
File & Data Management
Mar 9, 1983
The ways of how computers store and organize information are explored.
Communication Between Computers
Mar 16, 1983
The mechanics of inter-computer communications and related networks are explored.
Computer Languages
Mar 23, 1983
Various computer languages, their related mechanisms and how they aid in operating computers efficiently are discussed.
Computer-Assisted Instruction
Mar 30, 1983
The uses of computers in education are explored while the nature and limits of artificial intelligence is explored.
Games & Simulations
Apr 6, 1983
The nature of computer games and simulation programs as well as their practical applications are explored.
Computer Graphics
Apr 13, 1983
The elements of computer graphics are explored as well as related interfaces and presentation technologies.
Computer Music
Apr 20, 1983
The nature of computer generated sound, such as music and voice generation, is examined.
Computers at Work
Apr 27, 1983
Work related computer applications like word processing and spreadsheets, are explored.
What Next?
May 4, 1983
The future potential and concerns of computers are explored.
