Welcome

from Peter Benton Managing Director Post Office Telecommunications

I am delighted that you could join us at 'A Fanfare For Prestel'. It is something of a celebration, and I believe we have plenty to celebrate. Since the decision in February 1978 to launch a public Prestel service, we have:

• Developed the software and hardware for the world's largest computerised information service.

• Installed it as a fully operating system, with the associated computers, telecommunications plant, and staff.

• Developed, with the TV set and telecommunications industries, a comprehensive range of Prestel sets which solve, for the first time, the problems of connecting TV sets directly to the telephone network.

• Assembled, with the Information Providers, the only database in the world which is sufficiently broad in scope, and lively in presentation, to appeal to the general public as well as to the business user.

But this is only the beginning. For Prestel, success depends on growth. All the parties who have invested in Prestel (chip makers, set makers, set distributors, Post Office, and Information Providers) need rapid growth in the number of Prestel users. We need tens of thousands in 1980, and millions during the 1980s. For, as with other electronic products, volume production is the key to cheapness - which is the key to mass demand; and a big market will encourage the provision of a large, varied and topical database. Success will breed success.

We have therefore agreed with our partners to mount a substantial promotional campaign for Prestel in 1980. Starting this month, we are combining press advertising, TV advertising and a series of events here at Wembley, including 'A Fanfare For Prestel'. Our purpose this evening is to provide a light-hearted but informative review of Prestel's progress and plans. I hope you enjoy it.

Prestel

The Invention of Prestel

Prestel, the Post Office's viewdata service, links TV set, telephone, and computer to provide instant access, in home or office, to more than 150,000 pages of advice and information. Prestel was launched in 1979 in London, Birmingham and Nottingham. It was invented by the Post Office, and is the only service of its kind in the world.

A Prestel TV set looks and works like any other, but it has 12 extra control buttons. Behind these buttons lies extra electronic circuitry, which is connected to the existing telephone line. Within some telephone exchanges there are now Prestel computers, each holding more than 150,000 pages of information, contributed by hundreds of independent organisations. Every page has a number, and by punching that number on the control buttons the user can instantly display any of these pages of information on his TV screen. Because the telephone line provides a two-way link between TV set and computer, the user can send electronic messages back to the computer - for example for mail order shopping, or seat reservation.

Sister Services

Viewdata is the common name for this type of service; Prestel is the trademark of the Post Office viewdata service. There is a closely related family of services known as `teletext'. The BBC's teletext service is called Ceefax; the ITV teletext service is called Oracle.

These teletext services also send pages of information to the TV screen, but they do it over the air rather than over the telephone line. They are cheaper than Prestel, but their capacity is much smaller (hundreds of pages instead of hundreds of thousands) and they are purely one-way, towards the viewer; Prestel works in two directions. The BBC, IBA, and Post Office regard all these services as complementary, and have collaborated closely in their technical development.

Prestel was invented by Sam Fedida at the Post Office's research centre, which has carried out the subsequent development jointly with the Post Office's Data Processing Executive. This work gave Britain a world lead in computerised information services. We have sold our technology to telecommunications administrations in the Netherlands, West Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and the USA.

Prestel Today

As this programme goes to press (February 1980), Prestel is available on a local call basis in London, Birmingham and Nottingham. There are just over 2,000 homes and offices equipped with Prestel sets. The 150,000 pages in the database are provided by more than 200 newspapers, news agencies, magazines, book publ ishors, firms, clubs, and Government departments. They cover subjects from Accounting, Agriculture, Air Travel and Ancient Monuments, to Wine, Yachting, Yoga and Zinc.

The pages are typed into the computer, and updated, from more than 100 computer terminals in Information Providers' premises. Many pages are free; others (for example those from commercial publishers) may carry a page charge of a few pence. This money is counted by the Prestel computers, collected by the Post Office, and passed back to the Information Provider as revenue.

During 1980, Prestel will spread within local call reach of more than half the telephones in the UK.

Credits

Inventor of viewdata: Sam Fedida

Inventor of viewdata: Sam Fedida

Music

Musical Director, Royal Corps of Signals: Lt.Col. Keith Boulding
Leader of Prestellies: Dave Wood (Post Office Data Processing Executive)
Prestellies: Colin Hobson, Philip Lord, Chris Lambert, Mike Rowe, Nick Eales (Post Office Data Processing Executive)

The Prestel Connection

Originated for Prestel by: The Boase Massimi Pollitt Univas Partnership
Production Company: Brooks Fulford Cramer Seresin Ltd

Director: Len Fulford

Harry Lemon: Leonard Rossiter
Miss Shilling: Vicky Michelle
Boss: Johnny Shannon

1st Thug: Maurice Bush
2nd Thug: Gil Morris
The Blonde: Sue Vanner
The Vicar: Preston Lockwood
Script: Graham Collis & Derek Hass

Prestel Equipment

Head of Prestel Research & Development: Keith Clarke
Giant Keypad: Peter Rout (Post Office Research Centre)

Design & Photography

Graphic Design: James Sutton

Photography: Roland Schneider & Franz Gloor

Production

Programme Co-ordinator: Roy Chapman, Prestel Service Division
Audio Visual Systems: Tony Tapper, Post Office Telecommunications Marketing Executive

Demonstration Prestel Pages: Mike Samuels, Prestel Service Division
Telecommunications Facilities: London Telecommunications Region, North West Area, and London Prestel Centre

Buzby: Derek Francis, London Telecommunications Region
Ushers: London Telecommunications Region, North West Area
Auditorium Facilities: Wembley Conference Centre
Presenter: Alex Reid (Director of Prestel)

Some Showrooms with Prestel

Birmingham Area

Bradford Area

Brighton Area

Bristol Area

Canterbury Area

Chester Area

Colchester Area

Coventry Area

Dundee Area

Edinburgh Area

Glasgow Area

Guildford Area

Leeds Area

Leicester Area

Liverpool Area

London (Centre Area)

London (City Area)

London (East Area)

London (North Area)

London (North Central Area)

London (North West Area)

London (South Area)

London (South Central Area)

London (South East Area)

London (South West Area)

London (West Area)

Manchester (Central Area)

Manchester (North Area)

Manchester (South Area)

Norwich Area

Nottingham Area

Oxford Area

Plymouth Area

Reading Area

Scotland (West Area)

Southend Area

Tunbridge Wells Area

West Midland Area