Downloading Games from the Radio in the 1980s: A Forgotten Chapter of Computing History

In the 1980s UK, amidst economic recession, the BBC launched a public education initiative: The Computer Literacy Project. Beyond the famous BBC Micro and TV programs, a lesser-known Radio 4 series, 'The Chip Shop Takeaway,' utilized BASICODE, a system allowing software to run on various home computers. This involved broadcasting programs, including simple text-based games, that listeners could record and play. Though largely forgotten, this unique software distribution method highlights the ingenuity and limitations of early home computing.