BBc "Micro Bit"  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 12:50:24 pm
content: A new initiative to give away 1,000,000 of these to complement code teaching in the UKhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31834927

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 12:58:54 pm
content: A worthy cause and money well spent.

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 01:06:46 pm
content: Anyone got any details? All I've seen mentioned is that it's ARM, and I think it says Atmel on there. Doesn't appear to be much on the board apart from some simple passives and a grid of SMT LEDs - unless it's all underneath. What USB capable 48LQFP Atmel ARM MCUs fit the bill? (I'm not that familiar with Atmel stuff.)

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 01:33:14 pm
content: I am not an Atmel aficionado either, and my eyes may well be deceiving me, but it looks like 44 pin to me, but I can't see any Atmel ARM processors with 44 pins in their product selector. There are 30 odd 48 pin Atmel ARM devices available, and at least some are LQFP.Maybe there's something on the other side? I see Samsung are sponsoring, maybe there's an application processor on the other side, but that's a bit of overkill for flashing a few LEDs.

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 02:09:21 pm
content: You're right. It does look like 44. However the only Atmel 44-pin processors I can find are 8051. I suppose whatever it is will be fairly unexciting as it will be understandably built to a price.

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 02:20:35 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 12, 2015, 01:33:14 pmIt looks like an ATmega32U4...An ARM or other application processor does not make much sense on this board - aside from the USB connector it only has about roughly two dozens I/O pads/ring contacts, roughly two dozens LEDs and two buttons. What would you do with the processing power of an ARM on this board? Perhaps there will be add-on components - those 8 plates rings/holes (Pwr, Gnd, 6x I/O, i guess) which look to me like they are intended for some simple Lego-style plug'n'play. But, just having 6 of these I/O lines would not make an ARM on this board useful.Also, i do not know what was the motivation behind designing those large contact holes this way and using a surface-mount Micro USB socket, but it looks to me like the producer hopes the children will break these things quickly and thus schools would need to by more of these devices...

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 02:23:20 pm
content: Why are you thinking it is Atmel.Hereyou can read the product partners, looks like Freescale is the silicon fab.Quote

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 02:25:25 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on March 12, 2015, 02:23:20 pmBecause the chip on the board has the Atmel logo on it.

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 02:33:32 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on March 12, 2015, 02:23:20 pmWe do not think, we just use our eyes

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 02:47:42 pm
content: The Beeb have jumped the shark again.See the discussion over at:http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=103762It doesn't really matter what its capabilities are as its a one-off gimmick - 1M units to be given away then no more production, so it is fated to wither on the vine right there, with most of the units either broken and in the chinese ewaste stream or gathering dust on a classroom shelf as enthusiastic teachers and student's parents wont be able to buy extra units for their own use.It doesn't look like it can do anything that couldn't be done better with an Arduino + a LED shield + some work to add the desired languages to the Arduino IDE. . . .

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 02:56:23 pm
content: I saw "BBC Micro Bit" and got my hopes up that it was a spiritual successor to the mighty Model B

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 03:08:46 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 12, 2015, 02:25:25 pmAh ok I could not see it clearly i thought it said "ARM"

author: KM4FER
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 03:09:33 pm
content: I'm sorry folks but I don't see the claimed value to this.First, there are lots of people in the world who are willing to write code for less than what a living wage would be in Great BritainSecondly, by the time these kids reach the work force no one will be writing code anymore, you will just describe your problem to the computer in a higher level form and the computer will generate whatever code is necessary and probably design any hardware as well. Think along the lines of an FPGA with embedded processor, except on steroids.Thirdly, today's kids already have tons of experience using electronics as a result of playing video games which easily translates to operating a PC or a drone or even a nuclear power plant.So, the only value I see in teaching kids how to write code is in teaching them how to analyze a problem and think logically. Maybe that's enough.earl...

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 03:16:57 pm
content: Quote from: KM4FER on March 12, 2015, 03:09:33 pmagreeQuoteBullocks, in 2000 that would already be the case if it ever is going to be the case. You still see that there are a lot of people writing low level code to make small resource constrained and hence ultra cheap electronic devices.QuoteAgain bullocks, playing video games give you better eye hand coordination but teach you crap about how it was programmed, how a microcontroller works, mathematics, logical analysis. Unfortunately it teaches only to kill everything that moves.QuoteYou teach them that they can create something from thoughts, how to be creative. I just let my 10 yr old solder and prefab electronic dice and explained all the components to him. He loved soldering the components and show it off to everyone who cared to listen. The rest of the time he plays videogames and mostly watch youtube movies about other people playing videogamesWith that he learns nothing only to do activities that cost no energy, no creativeness, no problemsolving, just sitting and absorbing stupid movies.

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 03:17:09 pm
content: The oversize plated-thru holes are so this can be used as a wearable I presume.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 03:21:09 pm
content: Quote from: KM4FER on March 12, 2015, 03:09:33 pmYet I can still make a nice living out of itQuotePeople were saying similar when the BBC Micro was launched.QuoteWhich game teaches you how to scratch your own itch with a quick little bash script, batch file, or bit of python? Which game teaches them how to make the magic languages etc you mentioned above?QuoteThe magic you're expecting to happen will not and can not get rid of people doing lower level stuff altogether. Even if the promised for decades style programming and hardware design you think will happen does end up happening you need people who actually understand a low level subset of computers work to make them. Today you still need kernel hackers and systems programmers so the majority can get everything done in a browser.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 03:54:43 pm
content: The complaint in the UK has been that teaching Microsoft Office is enough to gain an IT qualification.Well I never needed anyone to teach me how to use a word processor or a spreadsheet, you can pick that up yourself.What has been missing is at least an introduction to the way computers work, and maybe a proportion of these kids will be inspired who wouldn't otherwise have been exposed.Learning a bit about this stuff oils your analytic skills, and opens up creative avenues. It shows you what happens when you get it wrong, understanding that sometimes you need to be very precise in what you do, at other times not so much.As to whether the skills are needed or not, we are continually told by government we don't have enough engineering skills in the country, hence we have many migrants doing that work as well as the huge amount of offshoring of precisely these skills that's happened over the past decade or so.We have become a nation of very expensive project managers, managing cheap overseas labour, with fewer and fewer native doers. Hopefully we may be able to rebalance this.As to whether programming skills will be needed ten years hence, of course they will be! Every time I've heard of some new fangled thing come along that will massively increase the productivity of programming it's ended up being either nil sum gain or sometimes worse. Projects still over run, they still go over budget, they are still de scoped. It takes longer and longer and longer to write Hello, World these days or get a blinky going because the supposed productivity increases are always offset by the increase in complexity.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 04:34:48 pm
content: I would argue that there are much better / easier and more fun ways to teach kids programming. I live in a 3rd world country and practically all middle schoolers here have a smart phone. Teaching them to create apps would be much easier for everyone.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 07:34:27 pm
content: Newark's lowest price on reels for the ATMEGA32U4-AU is $3.51, Digikey's is $3.61. I hope the BBC got a better deal. For that kind of money you can get a pretty decent ARM these days.Quote from: cosmicray on March 12, 2015, 03:17:09 pmI'm thinking it's so they can attach leads with small alligator clips or something similar and run the signals out to a breadboard. Maybe that is easier for younger children than a pin header and jumpers.Quote from: mojo-chan on March 12, 2015, 04:08:49 pmThey have functional boards and we can read what the processor is. I would take that as the truth.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 08:05:13 pm
content: I don't think any definite conclusions can be drawn from the pictured unit. Some reports mention that it is just a prototype and the final version may have a different chip, different interfaces, and a different name.

author: Mr Smiley
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 08:12:46 pm
content: from;http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/12/bbc-micro-bit-raspberry-pi‘It will fasten to clothing...’For now, exact details of the Micro Bit hardware are being kept under wraps, with the device still officially at “prototype” stage. It will sport a 5x5 LED display that can be used to scroll letters and flash, among other features.“It’s going to be small enough and light enough that it will fasten to clothing. And one of the key capabilities that will be in the final device compared to the prototype is Bluetooth LE,” said Atkinson.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 08:18:48 pm
content: ..and it will need more than a 5x5 grid to display text sensibly

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 08:36:22 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 12, 2015, 08:18:48 pmOne wonders why they didn't elect to go with one of the cheap Chinese 8x8 displays that are commonly available, though this would require multiplexing. I do notice this thing has exactly 25 LEDs and exactly one switch (assuming the other is reset). This IC has exactly 26 GPIO pins. Coincidence? I think not. They are making it as simple as possible for the kids I guess.Quote from: rolycat on March 12, 2015, 08:05:13 pmUh, yeah. Anything is possible, let's dream up some additional nonsense that is a possibility. I'm sure they rolled this prototype, got the USB interface working, and everything else just so they could throw it away and rewrite everything for a completely different architecture.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:32:59 pm
content: Quote from: KM4FER on March 12, 2015, 03:09:33 pmUh, really? That would require the kind of algorithmic and computer reasoning breakthrough in the following 10 years or so that we haven't seen in the last 200 years.I am also not sure what are you talking about when you have mentioned the FPGA there - those things don't program themselves neither and that the languages are mostly declarative doesn't mean that you can just tell the machine "Make it so that it will make me coffee every morning".Quote from: KM4FER on March 12, 2015, 03:09:33 pmWhoa. So basically the Fukushima and Tchernobyl operators were losers because they didn't play enough computer games, otherwise they would have been easily able to operate their plants properly.Are you serious with these claims? Have you actually tried to make today's kids use a computer for anything "serious" beyond playing games, browsing web and chatting on Facebook? If you did, you would have discovered that so called "digital natives" are no better (or worse) than their parents and grandparents when it comes to technology. They can push buttons faster and you don't need to explain them how to use a mouse, but that's all. This entire "digital natives" concept about the current youngsters has been quite thoroughly discredited in recent years.From personal experience, I have seen technical university (!!!) students copy files by opening a Word document and copying the content of a file inside that and then saving it under another name. I had undergrads in my class bring expensive Apple machines to class, but some of them didn't even know how to install software on them or that you can even do that without having to bring it to the store. I even remember one fellow that has bought a very expensive laptop and has never removed the wrinkled plastic protective foil from the screen, squinting at the distorted image instead.Quote from: KM4FER on March 12, 2015, 03:09:33 pmWell, that alone would be worth the effort, IMO. That skill is sorely lacking and not only in kids.Whether or not the BBC gizmo is going to make that happen, I don't know. However, the list of partners is telling (especially Microsoft being there) and even more telling is the absence of the Raspberry Pi foundation. A foundation that has just sold 5 million of their Pis, with computer science and technology education being their core mission, unlike BBC's.If I wanted to go completely on a limb and speculate, it wouldn't surprise me if this was another Microsoft's effort to get into the education market to get kids used to their tools. I am fairly sure there will be a Windows-only, perhaps Visual Studio based IDE for this gadget.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:38:05 pm
content: Yes, I was wondering if the displayed unit was more a proof of concept than a prototype. However, if they are looking to have 1,000,000 units for September, bearing in mind lead times for that kind of volume for the non-Jelly bean parts they're going to have to come up with something pretty sharpish if anything's to change fundamentally.Thing is, I'd have thought to run Python you need something reasonably meaty. I know almost nothing of TouchDevelop, other than it's a Microsoft thing designed to run in-browser, so what its application is to this device I don't know, but again it doesn't exactly sound "light".

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:51:53 pm
content: QuoteI believe that the RPi Foundation are in fact involved, developing educational resources for it.http://www.raspberrypi.org/bbc-make-it-digital/Edit: of interest is that the BBC weren't interested in having anything to do with the RPi at its inception, with broadcasting and competition rules cited. In truth it was probably all to hard for the BBC to figure out how it was going to pan out, after all the developer of the RPi had no previous in manufacturing etc. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing, but realistically it would have been a big risk for a publicly funded organisation to put forward unbudgeted resources for such a thing. The excuses cited were probably more of a polite way of saying "bugger off".A big public organisation like the BBC has a lot of fingers in the pie already, so the only way anything's going to happen is if they control it.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:58:57 pm
content: From the link in post #1:QuoteBut the whole focus on "learning to code to fill a skills gap" is borne out of a complete misunderstanding of how science, technology and engineering works. You can get children interested in science and technology by inspiring their curiosity, sure, but you can't "fill a digital skills gap" by means of school lessons.The idea that learning to "code" is somehow going to enable children to design complex systems on time and on budget that deliver the requirements to the necessary quality is a foolish as thinking that teaching children how to read and write is going to enable them to write well structured novels with a beginning, a middle, an end and an engaging plot (or to become successful journalists). Some will go on to do that, of course, but they are the ones that would have done it anyway. And the few that do will be the ones with the necessary talent.The harsh reality is that software engineering is a branch of systems engineering and to do that well requires talent, advanced education and a lot of practice.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 10:10:25 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on March 12, 2015, 09:58:57 pmWell, we all had to start somewhere.You're largely right, but how do you encourage individuals to take the engineering route to begin with rather than become yet another non-technical project manager? How do you know you'd quite like to do a bit of coding without trying it first?How would you encourage more kids to consider STEM related careers?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 10:10:34 pm
content: Exposing children to all kinds of knowledge makes them wiser to choose a direction later in life.I do not know how it is in your countries but a lot of children geaduating from highschool here have the feintest idea which study they are going to do and more important exactly what kind of job you can do with that degree.Some choose what is known in their family, some choose just for money or fame, some choose a generic study so they can later decide what to do such as mathematics or physics.So showing kids all kinds of studies, knowledge and what you can do with it later in life is IMO always a good thing.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 10:41:39 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 12, 2015, 10:10:25 pmTrue.QuoteThese are very valid questions, and yes getting some exposure to coding can inspire you to consider a software career. It certainly did with me. But like most people in my position I was already interested in science and technology so computers were just another exciting element to add to the mix.I think the deeper answer is to fix the education system to make education interesting and inspiring again. Make learning fun rather cramming knowledge to pass the test. Bring back the bangs and flashes and smoke in chemistry lessons that have been pushed out by health and safety fears.I used to look forward to lessons because of the joy of learning. Nowadays it is all about attainment and meeting goals by certain age milestones. Testing, testing, testing. Exam grades and league tables.You don't learn in (high) school what you need to know to function in the working world as an adult. High school is just meant to prepare you for the next stage of learning. So there should be less focus on results and more focus on engagement.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:17:17 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 12, 2015, 10:10:25 pmI am personally more worried about the focus on "coding" as the latest fad and catchphrase for indicating you are "in" and on top of the current needs of the society.There is a push to teach "coding" instead of thinking, creativity, basic curiosity and general engineering and scientific methods. For me "coding" always evokes an image of a "trained monkey" mindlessly writing some dull code in a nondescript cubicle, without much if any creativity involved. The other association that comes up is web apps in Javascript. That is certainly needed too, but I doubt that that should be the sole objective here.Basically, if someone speaks about "coding" and they aren't a programmer talking over a beer, you can take it pretty much for granted that the person talks about something that they have absolutely no clue about. That buzzword is really that bad, even programmers don't use it any more.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 03:16:20 pm
content: I think it's an evolution of a term.For years I've said things like "I'll write some code for that", there was nothing derogatory about the word "code" there. I don't find the term "coding" particularly bad either, although I do agree that it does seem to be a bit trendy all of a sudden.However, I fear that we may be guilty of complaining about minutiae, when we should be applauding the general initiative. Grumpy old men and women if you like.The point is to expose the basic fundamentals to spark interest, not to create a god-like super programmer. I am sure many, if not most, will fall by the wayside, and that's fine, it's not going to float everyone's boat. But if each student is to have one, I can also see innate competition between kids happening which will automatically encourage its use out of the classroom too. And yes, many I am sure will end up in drawers, much like all those millions of Raspberry Pis and Arduinos. but at least the effort was made, and we might end up going some way to filling the skills shortage we keep being told exists.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 03:31:32 pm
content: Quote from: janoc on March 13, 2015, 02:17:17 pmI can''t stand the word "app," they're programs, programmes or at a push applications. And I still can't get it into my head that most people don't think what we'd think when I say "I'm just hacking away at this..."But meh, languages evolve. Except for dead ones and French

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 03:57:43 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 13, 2015, 03:31:32 pmNot programmes - a piece of code written on a computer is a program in either the US or the UK.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:12:55 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on March 13, 2015, 03:57:43 pmBut my spelling is not so great, I'm happy if I get a close homonym. Makes it better that they're pretty much the same word too. Before programmes we used programs like the Americans do...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:18:16 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 13, 2015, 03:31:32 pmQuote from: Mechanical Menace on March 13, 2015, 04:12:55 pmFor purists and/or pedants, British English has TV programmes, but computer programs(I do not know why.)

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:27:37 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on March 13, 2015, 04:18:16 pmFromthis site:British English uses programme unless referring to computers.The word “program” was predominant in the UK until the 19th century, when the spelling “programme” became more common — largely as a result of influence from French, which has the same word “programme”.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:28:03 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on March 13, 2015, 04:18:16 pmYou got "program" from us, after you kicked up a fuss and "left home" we changed it to "programme," then computers came along and we adopted "program" for that context. Not sure at what point, and not sure at all what we called programs on our computers before openly sharing them with America but stupidly keeping our research secret from our universities etc...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:43:25 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 13, 2015, 04:28:03 pmFYI, I'm British, I just happen to have my home in America.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:48:43 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on March 13, 2015, 04:43:25 pmOh sorry fella, I didn't mean anything bad by it

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:49:55 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on March 13, 2015, 04:27:37 pmHmm, the literary types were doing funny things with the language back then. They also turned tire into tyre.

author: FreddyVictor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 08:27:29 am
content: more background info from another forum: early prototypeherewhich appears to usethis BoB

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 08:58:52 am
content: Interesting, in his twitter feed the developer says "That version is atmel 32u4. Production will probably be an ARM."

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 09:26:34 am
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 14, 2015, 08:58:52 amHe alsosaid on TwitterQuoteTranslation into casual English: "My prototype can blink 25 LEDs. Can you make a thingamabob that blinks more LEDs?"Really, what was/is the point of that "prototype", if the product will be an entirely different thing? Did he want to prove that he can design and manufacture a PCB, and then let the "partners" do their own whatever...? Me starts to think now they just needed some fancy presentable eye candy "prototype" for PR...

author: FreddyVictor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 09:53:37 am
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 14, 2015, 08:58:52 amI would imagine the 'general public' have heard of ARM chips - used in apple products etc - than say an ATmel or Microchipmakes sense to include this buzz word to attract more press

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 02:50:42 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on March 12, 2015, 04:34:48 pmThat's a good idea, and the smart phones are 1000 times faster then the first computer I used.Just checked the android app market and it does have programming languages. For example, this LOGO that the kids can program anywhere.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 03:01:48 pm
content: Quote from: FreddyVictor on March 14, 2015, 09:53:37 amThe BBC takes tax money so using a local architecture is more appropriate.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 03:11:30 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on March 14, 2015, 03:01:48 pmI haven't seen it stated anywhere, but I would expect this initiative to be largely self-funding from the list of partners.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 03:16:08 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on March 16, 2015, 02:54:15 pmOf course it's a tax, regardless how the government weasels call it, and you have to pay it even if you watch only the competition."Income from the licence is primarily used to fund the television, radio and online services of the BBC"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 04:18:08 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on March 16, 2015, 03:16:08 pmThat video is people going out of there way to make a scene. All you have to do is ring them, fill in an form, or let them know online you don't watch broadcast TV, or live streaming of broadcast television. Then they leave you alone unless they have a reason to suspect you're lying.Also not all of the license fee goes to the BBC, some of it also gets split between all the other terrestrial broadcasters.And TBH it's more like a toll than a tax.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 05:05:56 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 16, 2015, 04:18:08 pm"Income from the licence is primarily used to fund the television, radio and online services of the BBC" Wikipedia.Toll for what? Watching the competition?Its' anachronistic and corrupt.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 05:19:55 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 16, 2015, 04:18:08 pmYouTube is a fruitful source of confirmation bias for conspiracy theoristsQuoteDo you have any evidence of this? Channel 4 receives funding from the government, but it is not sourced from the licence fee.QuoteIn January 2006 the BBC license fee wasreclassifiedfrom being a service charge to a tax.One consequence of this was that the BBC itself was moved from being a public non-financial corporation to a central government body.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 05:19:55 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on March 16, 2015, 05:05:56 pmPRIMARILY. ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 also get their cut. It's also what funds the transmitters. ITV for example pays nothing towards it's digital transmissions (the only ones operating any more) and hasn't since 1998.QuoteCompetition that also receives some of that license income.QuoteAnachronistic yes, corrupt no. That accusation is often made but never substantiated beyond "TV stars get paid more than I do!!!"

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 05:26:15 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 16, 2015, 05:19:55 pmIt's not particularly anachronistic - half of the countries in Asia and Africa, and two-thirds of the countries in Europe use television licences to fund public television.There may well be corruption on the part of some individuals in the organisation, but that is true of most large organisations, public or private.

author: FreddyVictor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 11:17:26 am
content: looks like the final version has arrived:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33409311https://www.techwillsaveus.com/microbit/apparantly uses an ARM processor, but as with the previous version, little or no hard info yet (that I could find) !

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 12:05:47 pm
content: There is some more detail about the hardware here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/microbit/specsProcessor is an ARM Cortex M0, runtime includes:A simple, unified OO model for the deviceA lightweight, non-pre-emptive fibre schedulerManaged types for immutable strings and bitmapped imagesA message bus for shipping software and hardware events...as well as drivers for the LED matrix, bluetooth, accelerometer, compass etc.The thin contacts between the five larger connections at the bottom edge are also functional, making a 20-pin edge connector.And it will be on sale to the general public.