Computer Predicts Horse Racing Results
From the collection of
Online Shopping is on its Way
- Norwich
- 1987-12-30
Computer Predicts Horse Racing Results (About Anglia)
In this segment of Friday Flutter, we explore if a computer can predict horse racing results.
Using an Alpha Micro computer with the capacity of a whopping 10 million characters, John Bigley, a former restaurant manager and racing fanatic, and Colin Haverscroft, marketing manager of a Royston computer company, have built Cospac, the electronic racing information service. The machine uses 40 computer programmes to analyse statistics from previous races to determine a favourite. The results generated by the computer are accurate enough to be used in The Sporting Weekender, and Bigley and Haverscroft are commissioned to produce a statistical review of the 1984 season.
Reporter Gerry Harrison interviewed John Bigley and Colin Haverscroft in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire for this video, made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia. Part of Anglia Television's monthly 'Friday Flutter' series, featuring horseracing betting tips.
Video made to be inserted during live broadcast of Anglia Television's early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia. The live studio presentation provided context for the video as part of a news story or magazine feature within the programme. About Anglia was not recorded during broadcast, so it is usually just the pre-recorded programme inserts which survive. In the 1980s Anglia Television was broadcasting to a wide area in the East of England including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk and adjoining parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Rutland where there was some overlap with neighbouring ITV regions.
Tags
Silicon Fen
Computers and digital innovation in Cambridgeshire 1982-1988.
In the 1980s, Cambridgeshire had a concentration of individuals and businesses working on computer technology, often connected with the University of Cambridge. This earned it the nickname Silicon Fen, linking the East England fenland to California's high-tech Silicon Valley. Clive Sinclair, Acorn's BBC Micro and Alan Sugar of Amstrad became household names, but many smaller companies contributed to the regional success story.
Silicon Fen was and still is at the cutting edge of UK information technology, credited with innovations in integrated circuits, computer hardware and software, graphics, games and information resources, not to mention launching Britain's first affordable home computers.
This selection of news items from Anglia Television's About Anglia highlights some key developments and examples of early adoption of computers for work and home.
11 videos in this collection
1
Online Shopping is on its Way
2
Cambridge Computer-Based Technology
3
Mensa Symposium Predicts Future
4
Olympia's Personal Computer World Show 1985
5
Sinclair C5 Cycle / Car Launched
6
East of England Show Pictorial Archive
7
Appeal For Computer Game Programmers
8
Computer Lifeline for the Elderly
9
Computer Shows Off Make Up Effects
10
Computerised flood warning system
11