22 Oct
2012
22 Oct
'12
11:28 p.m.
On 23 October 2012 07:04, Tom Sparks <tom_a_sparks at yahoo.com.au> wrote:
I am wondering if there is software that can allow me
run/experience these old pre-internet Online services
both from a user and a sysops view as I did not know about them until later?
For videotex (aka videotext/viewdata), my website -
www.viewdata.org.uk - has a lot of (UK biased) information on it,
including some "webified" versions of what little data I've been able
to find. (I have a pile of documentation on Viatel, the Australian
service, but not got that online yet.) I do have my old 1980s BBS
still complete and working, but unfortunately due to builders having
been in, it's all boxed up at the moment ... http://www.ccl4.org/
might still be online, but you need Java enabled to access it which
I've not got so can't check.
Software wise, you can try finding a copy of CommunITel, and run it on
BeebEm, if you don't have an actual BBC Micro - this is what was used
in schools to teach kids how to set up and run local systems so it's
pretty straightforward. (I've got several copies, but see previous
note re boxes..)
If anybody ever finds a copy of the original server-side software
developed by the GPO/BT that Prestel itself, Viatel, Bildschirmtext or
anyone else they sold it to ran on, please please let me know.
Rob