News on Screen

Series

Series Name

Living Tomorrow

Issue

Issue No.

271

Length of issue (in feet)

522

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. Seeing By Numbers 2: Community Computer
• 2. Seeing By Numbers 2: F.L.A.I.R.
• 3. Seeing By Numbers 2: F.L.A.I.R.

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 3

Summary

COI synopsis: In the past decade, the computer has grown in versatility whilst shrinking in size and cost. The resulting impact on our society is wide-ranging. From graphic art to saving lives, the tiny silicon chip has huge potential. A helicopter takes off to rescue a man lost at sea on a dark night. But how do you search in the dark? Our eyes only see light, but a special camera slung beneath the helicopter sees heat. Night becomes day in front of the pilot’s eyes as these invisible waves are turned into pictures on a tiny TV screen on his helmet. Everywhere the pilot looks, the camera follows: a computer synchronises every movement and the pictures stay as clear as day. If there are survivors, this system will find them.

Researcher Comments

Story also appears in ‘Living Tomorrow No. 305’

Keywords

Aircraft; Science and technology; Photography; Emergency services; Accidents and disasters; Computers and computing

Written sources

COI Microfilm Roll 55 [BFI National Archive]   Used for synopsis

COI Reference

MI 1458/271

Credits:

Sponsor

Central Office of Information (COI)

Sponsor

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name

British Film Institute (BFI)

Email

For BFI National Archive enquiries:
nonfictioncurators@bfi.org.uk
For commercial/footage reuse enquiries:
footage.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7580 7503

Address

21 Stephen Street
London W1T 1LN

Notes

The BFI National Archive also preserves the original nitrate film copies of British Movietone News, British Paramount News, Empire News Bulletin, Gaumont British News, Gaumont Graphic, Gaumont Sound News and Universal News (the World War II years are covered by the Imperial War Museum).

Series held

View all series held by British Film Institute (BFI)