I'm the man operating VOTEM, the Voice Operated Typewriter Employing Morse Code in that 1969 video. (I look somewhat different now, some 52 years later.) I wasn't the inventor of the machine but I developed it whilst working at STL in Harlow. Despite what Raymond Baxter says, it wasn't actually a computer, but a machine made out of discrete logic gates, although we did simulate the idea on a PDP8 minicomputer before developing the hardware. When I arrived at the BBC studio, for two reasons, I was somewhat horrified to learn that the program was scheduled to be broadcast live. Firstly, my command of Morse Code was not perfect and secondly, the machine was somewhat temperamental and I was concerned that the heat from the studio lights would effect it. You may have noticed that I had to repeat one of the commands because the machine failed to recognise it. Anyway, apart from that, luckily everything worked fine. VOTEM was the first reliable voice controlled machine ever developed, but of course, we've come a long way since then and I marvel at modern speech recognition machines,. In 1969, it was thought to be impossible for machines to ever understand natural speech.

Growing up in the 60's this was the best science program the BBC ever made, it's no wonder I love science and technology. No fancy graphics, no waffling, just straight talking - hands on explanations. Happy days!

Raymond Baxter fought as a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain. Loved this programme growing up.

I've just shown the dit da machine to my Amazon Alexa...she got very emotional...she had never seen any footage of her great grandparents before.

As a kid this was some of the most exciting music I could hear, because it introduced one of my favourite programmes. Used to be glued to the black and white TV screen!

This programme was way ahead of its time - we need this kind of TV more than ever now!

By the left, this takes me back. As a youngster, I lived on Tomorrow’s world, wickers world and Colditz. 👍😁

Tomorrow's World covered so many new ideas and inventions in technology and science over 3 decades that recordings of the show will eventually become an interesting historical record. The BBC weren't afraid back then to broadcast what, on the face of it, might appear to be a show which would only appeal to a tiny audience. The fact that it was so popular for so many years is a testament in itself of the curious nature of the British public, and the person within the BBC, who had the guts to commission the show.

I remember when they drove a steam roller over this new invention called a 'CD' claiming it was virtually indestructable and it was true, the steam roller wasn't harmed in the least.

Now we get BBC Click and the Gadget show, the technology has come on leaps and bounds but the TV shows demonstrating them have become seriously dumbed down.

Here I am wasting my time with KZfaq, e-mail, Facebook, and Instagram when I could be spending my time talking to an old typewriter, saying, "Dah dit dit dah dit dah dit dit dah."

In the days when there was something good to watch on Tv.

Raymond Baxter. The best ever reporter. His coverage of any subject was complete and clear. His knowledge at air shows was the best ever.

Such an optimistic time. The complete lack of cynicism and political spin is profoundly refreshing.

This is from when the BBC could be believed and people spoke properly.

A LOT of kids in the UK made entire careers in Science and Engineering thanks to being inspired by Tomorrow's World.

Compare this prime time tv offering with the drivel they produce nowadays.

Great days for scientific minds with Tomorrow's World and HORIZON.

Listening to that signature tune brings back some many memories

I used to watch this as a kid. It still seems ahead of it''s time. James Burke can be found here on YT on some current documentaries. I always loved the theme music to this program. Cheers.

This is from the generation that put a man on the moon. I love their enthusiasm and optimism, they were truly a generation of visionaries and forward thinkers. For them, literally anything was possible. Voice recognition, we only just mastered it in the last 10 years.

To put this in perspective, controlling a machine with your voice was considered noteworthy enough to make it onto a prime time BBC programme. At the same time NASA got to the moon with the same level of technology. Now that is impressive!

God - the opening music - and I'm a child again.

Absolute genius, I am genuinely in awe of what was achieved. We would not have what we have now if it was not for all of these innovations.

“Hello, who dat?” 😂😂😂

Now I know where Sting got the lyrics........

I loved Tommorrows World, I used to watch the episodes with Peter Snow and Phillipa Forrester - who I thought was fantastic. I also vaguely recall the Judith Hann years as a very small child. There wouldn't be need for such programmes now as we seem to have invented everything and yet seem so backward. Science was exciting, always was, far more so than art which I ended up doing as a career. They made science enjoyable but never dumb. As I've never seen these episodes I find them fascinating. I love to see if any of these inventions are in use today.

Is that James Burke, of Connections fame? it is! Wow!

What a brilliant programme it was . Loved watching it

Ah yes, the year of captain Kirks Startrek, the moon landing, the Beatles. What a great time. 😊

Still enjoying my aluminium coated curtains today in Amsterdam.

Ah, the authoratative voices of Raymond Baxter and Derek Cooper - If they'd told me the world was flat I would've believed them!

I totally loved Tomorrow's World when I was a kid. I was 14 when this episode came out and can remember it! I think more than any other TV program this fired me up with enthusiasm for science and technology 😁😁

Alexa turn on house lights. Did you say mow the lawn with a crossbow? Yes, mow the lawn with a crossbow. Turning on house lights.

Excellent. Many Thanks. I watched this last when I was eleven.

OMG It's James Burke! Still innovating in 2020!!!

Voice recognition of any kind in 1969 is impressive. I tried this morse code technique with Alexa and she didn't get it. ;)

Before my time, but wow, this was great TV. Not even Click comes close! Thank you for the upload.

Mr Baxter did a lot of work as a voice actor doing presentations for various manufacturing companies. Many such actors would just learn their script and read it. Raymond would want to learn everything there was to know about the product, which made a whole lot of difference in his presentation.

Pardon me whilst I laugh at the idiot comments here. In 1969, to get a voice to control a computer was literally 'rocket science' . About the same time gap as James T Kirk's communicator and our iphones!

He's literally speaking droid

I loved this show when. I was young.

The year I was born, and have a tomorrows world book signed by Raymond Baxter and James Burke.

Burke: “Hello - who dat?” I think I wet myself with laughing. Love that dude!

Great upload, THANK YOU!

The breeding ground for our modern computers, internet, voice recognition. The dit dat dah guy here is a pure visionary, thank you sir.

In 1969 I was Eighteen and this was my favourite programme, life was great then, now it's rubbish BBC wise which is one good reason not to watch.

The theme tune still makes me feel warm and happy. Animal Magic makes me think of fish and chips for some reason!

Amazing to think 1969 was Moon Landing, 747 debut and Concorde’s first flight. Must’ve been exciting growing up in those times.

Raymond Baxter and James Burke in the same programme. How spoiled we were.

This takes me back to Tuesday nights in the 70s in-between doing my homework, early multi tasking.

I could watch these fascinating time capsules all day long.

I remember my late aunt holding my hand as she and my Dad walked me thru that exhibit. She was Walts private secretary for many years.

I can't wait for the future! Oh wait... I'm already here. Disappointing.

Me: di da dida didit dit dit Siri: 😑

I hadn't been born when this programme came out - I had to wait until the following year. Raymond Baxter was well known for the programme and I remember watching when old enough to do so.

Excellent! Yes, this is how we invented, produced, and distributed some of the World’s most exciting products.

so basically he was about half a century ahead of the likes of Echo/Alexa, Google Home, Siri and if modern day or widespread internet existed back then.. then he was already onto IoT¡ and as the host said: modified morse code... so that means, having an entirely different/ unique code was plausible too (over time): aka encryption aka secure transmission of sorts!

He's an alien from planet Dida

For me when growing up Tomorrow's World was one of many great programs on the then worthy BBC and I would look forward to them, with worthy gentlemen and Ladies for presenters, no celeb wast of times just education made entertaining. Many greatly missed presenters RIP.

8:40 "Hello who dat?" I was dying of laughter xD. This was 1969??? 😂

He reminded me of an old Modem I used to own.

Wonderful memories thank you.

James Burke: "On Earth, At the *Hooo-ston* receiving laboratory" lol

LOVED the Theme Tune!

di did dada didid dada didid didi dada dada di didi dada dada da da di da da, thats my personal opinion only though

True Fact: All modern Virtual Assistants like Siri, OK google, and Alexa still have the morse code speech recognition at their core. Try it now kids!

A time of great optimism, for the advances of science and for a better future.

Presented by adults, something you no longer see.

When people spoke properly

Looks more intellectually advanced than the crappy documentaries we see today 50yrs on! Thanks for sharing! 🐱👍🏿

WHAT A GREAT SHOW , I LOVED IT 😊

Wasn't that guy doing Morse code a member of Kraftwerk?

Great programme I remember watching this long time ago, Raymond Baxter also promote Rover cars and BL cars too during the 70s . Regards mark

I can't imagine why talking in Morse code didn't catch on!

Loved this programme as a kid.

I was 13 when I watched this live. It was heady stuff back then.

06:25 _"...and I will just adjust the host with my right hand so he is more comfortable!"_

This was when Great Britain, as it was called back then, was at the forefront of design and technology.

I watched this live in 69 and that's how it was. Why all the juvenile comments?

Gravitas in an adult world (without the omnipresent Prof Cox with his inane and irritating grin). God how I miss the 60s and 70s.

Sting watched this programme, and ten years later wrote De Doo Doo Doo, De Da Da Da.

Ned Flanders would of loved that typewriter. Didledadideli

Fascinating. This features the earliest computer that reliably responded to voice commands. Now, such technology is common place, but 51 years ago, there was just one computer capable of doing so. It was quite a long time until another one came along. Also interesting was to hear them conjecture excitedly about the first time Humans landed on the moon. Their conjectures were interesting to hear. Thanks for sharing

Ahh memories. What a program this was.

Professor Stephen Hawking could have had a very different voice if his illness had set in a few years earlier.

I used to watch this when in the 70s

Anyone remember the episode with the guy that invented a heatproof paste? Painted it on an egg, took a cutting torch to it, & the egg remained uncooked...seemingly the old guy died & took the secret with him to the grave. The shuttle could've used some

Use to watch this programme in the 1980's,and it was brilliant show different future technology.

THIS is the original music that has always stuck in my mind.

It's amazing to think, that I'm typing this message by talking to my phone. Not by using a dit dah, but by actually talking in English. And my Android Galaxy phone, came just 50 odd years after this show was produced. Right now, I'm still talking to my phone and now I'm thinking about the idea of mass spectrometers, chromatographic spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and it's brother, inductively coupled plasma mass emission spectroscopy, and neutron activation analysis, looking at materials and their chemical structure. I like the idea that today we can discern with absolute accuracy what things are made of in just a few moments, by looking at a digital displayby using these machines, which in the late 60s must have seemed like science fiction. And seeing the precursor to this phone sitting on that big table in front of Raymond Baxter, with it's huge analogue computer card inside the box to get the voice recognition for the morse code dit dah's, in order to dial and make a call with a huge telephone and analogue coupler going through a wire.. And here I am, with everything on that table (bar typewriter) in my little tiny handheld slither of a machine weighing just a few ounces.. oh please, someone invent a time machine, because I want to walk into that studio in early 1969 and hand them this phone and show it to them. I expect that engineer would have the wind taken from his sails a little.. It seems we've come an awful long way in 50 years.

Amazing to know the digital progress from its very first idea.

We had a teletype machine network at Snowden dormitory in Columbia 6th floor in 1975 at USC. Used about five teletype machines (big and heavy) connected by TV wire run around outside of building. Fred Collins had the ham radio and snatched signal from news networks broadcasting-upi and sp etc- we got the news a day before the newspaper on special roll paper printed in room. No ones roommate could stand sound more than an hour. Bought used surplus teletypes from Western Union surplus. Massive nachines.We thought we were tech geniuses.

So glad HD came along ..

Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"

Alexa, daa daa dit daa! Well it had to start somewhere🤣

Ye Gods this is pre moon landing !! I used to love this programme

Love that music.

Use to watch this every week

Now I know where they got some ideas for my fav TV programme at the time, Dr Who.