Micro Knowledge – ZX Spectrum Edition: Reimagining the final book in the Ladybird Computer Series

Explore Micro Knowledge - ZX Spectrum Edition on my website:
https://jsonj.co.uk/project/micro-knowledge

Throughout its heyday Ladybird Books was a British institution, famous for publishing compact and beautifully illustrated hardback books for children at an affordable price.
Ladybird Books: http://www.ladybird.co.uk/

With an extensive collection of educational books, Ladybird first addressed the topic of the computer head-on in the 1971 volume 'How it works' The Computer by David Carey with illustrations by H. Robinson.
How it works... The Computer (1971): https://archive.org/details/How.It.Works.The.Computer.1971.Edition.David.Carey

While diminutive in size, legend has it that this unassuming children's book was the reference volume of choice for the UK's Ministry of Defence.
Ladybird and the MoD: https://ladybirdflyawayhome.com/ladybird-and-the-m-o-d-the-plot-thickens/

Reflecting the rapid progress in the field The Computer was updated in 1979 with new material by James Blythe and additional illustrations by Gerald Witcomb MSIAD. The cover of the 1971 edition had prominently featured paper tape and punched cards, and told its young readers that "as many as thirty components can now be fitted into a capsule." However, by 1979 the "Visual Display Unit" was increasingly commonplace, and rapid progress meant that "many thousands of components can now be fitted into silicon chips."
How it works... The Computer (1979): https://archive.org/details/How.It.Works.The.Computer.1979.Edition.David.Carey

By the early 1980s, the idea of the home computer had become a reality. Sinclair had launched the ZX80, a British made machine that could be purchased for under £100; and by 1982 the incredibly successful ZX Spectrum had arrived, with colour graphics and sound from just £125.
Sinclair ZX 80 Advert: https://nosher.net/archives/computers/adve_007
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Advert: https://nosher.net/archives/computers/sinclair_spec_praccomp_nov82

Meanwhile the BBC had launched the Computer Literacy Project, but had chosen to partner with Acorn to develop the companion computer, the BBC Micro.
BBC Computer Literacy Project: https://clp.bbcrewind.co.uk/
BBC Micro Announcement: https://nosher.net/archives/computers/comp_today_1981-09_042

The intertwined history and heated rivalry of these two British computer companies was later to be dramatised in the BBC's own 2009 production: Micro Men.
BBC Four Micro Men Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5b92
Micro Men on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XXBxV6-zamM or https://youtu.be/wuGl2G6Aes4

In 1984, Ladybird Books published Series S842: the Ladybird Computer Series. This larger format softback collection was targeted at young computer users and the series sought to encourage a hands-on approach to learning about the "micro." This new series included four books:

Micros are fun written by Tony Gray Cert Ed, M A and Carl Billson Cert Ed, M A, M Sc: https://archive.org/details/micros-are-fun
Ideas for micro users written by Tony Gray Cert Ed, M A and Carl Billson Cert Ed, M A, M Sc: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2001052/Book/Ideas_for_Micro_Users
Projects for programs written by Derek Blease, M Phil, B A, Cert Ed: https://archive.org/details/projectsforprogr0000blea
Micro Knowledge written by John Smith B Sc(ENG), M Ed with illustrations by Ken McKie: https://archive.org/details/microknowledge0000smit

The first three books in the series included information and examples for users of both the BBC microcomputer, by Acorn, and the ZX Spectrum, from Sinclair. However, the fourth book Micro Knowledge, was exclusively written for users of the BBC 'B' and Acorn Electron. This homage to those original books, takes a second look at the content covered in the fourth volume and lovingly imagines how it might have been presented for ZX Spectrum users.

Micro Knowledge - ZX Spectrum Edition is not endorsed or authorised by Ladybird Books Ltd; John Smith B Sc(ENG), M Ed; or Ken McKie.

Видео Micro Knowledge – ZX Spectrum Edition: Reimagining the final book in the Ladybird Computer Series канала Jason Jacques