Episode 9

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0:17:02 > 0:17:04Did you know that the world's first computer programme was

0:17:04 > 0:17:09- written in 1843?- What clever clogs figured that one out, Doctor?

0:17:09 > 0:17:13Her name was Ada Lovelace, and she was a brilliant mathematician

0:17:13 > 0:17:14and scientist.

0:17:14 > 0:17:19Speaking of "brilliant" scientists, where in crumpet's name is McCork?

0:17:19 > 0:17:23Look at this, lads, the Super Squishy 9000.

0:17:23 > 0:17:27- It's the best ice cream machine on the planet.- Oh, McCork!

0:17:27 > 0:17:30- Get to your desk!- Wooo-whoa!

0:17:30 > 0:17:32This is Brain Freeze!

0:17:32 > 0:17:34With Dr Knowles...

0:17:36 > 0:17:38Professor McCork...

0:17:38 > 0:17:39ZAP!

0:17:39 > 0:17:42And Colin, the floor manager.

0:17:42 > 0:17:45TELEVISION NEWS THEME MUSIC

0:17:45 > 0:17:46STAND BY!!!

0:17:51 > 0:17:52# Brain Freeze! #

0:17:52 > 0:17:55Hello, everyone, you're very welcome to Brain Freeze!

0:17:55 > 0:17:58Let's dive right in and reveal...

0:18:00 > 0:18:03Today we're asking, can computers think?

0:18:03 > 0:18:06In the early days, computers were incredibly basic.

0:18:06 > 0:18:11- They were slow, took up a whole room and cost a fortune.- Ha!

0:18:11 > 0:18:15- Sounds like me.- But think about it. That was less than a century ago.

0:18:15 > 0:18:18As processors got smaller, computers got faster,

0:18:18 > 0:18:22so much so that today I've got a computer in my pocket -

0:18:22 > 0:18:25my smartphone - that's thousands of times cheaper,

0:18:25 > 0:18:28smaller and more powerful than those original machines.

0:18:28 > 0:18:32Ah, tell me about it. Mine keeps beating me at Furious Badgers.

0:18:32 > 0:18:34Ah! I wish I could think that fast.

0:18:34 > 0:18:38Well, the truth is, it's not really thinking, Professor.

0:18:38 > 0:18:42Computers can only do exactly what they're told. No more and no less.

0:18:42 > 0:18:45Really? And how are we supposed to tell them what to do?

0:18:45 > 0:18:49- They never listen.- Well, that's where computer coding comes in.

0:18:49 > 0:18:52But before we even go there, let's take a quick break.

0:18:52 > 0:18:54TELEVISION NEWS THEME MUSIC

0:18:54 > 0:18:56And we're clear!

0:18:56 > 0:18:59OK, so step one, "ensure you have all the pieces required to

0:18:59 > 0:19:02"complete construction." Meh, close enough.

0:19:02 > 0:19:07"Step two, carefully programme the system using the following code."

0:19:07 > 0:19:09Meh, I don't really want to do that.

0:19:09 > 0:19:13Er, you might want to pay a bit more attention to the instructions,

0:19:13 > 0:19:19- Professor.- Sh. Busy.- But, McCork, you can't just make it up!- Programming.

0:19:19 > 0:19:22- But, but, but... - No, Colin. Leave him.

0:19:22 > 0:19:24Let's see how he gets on doing it his way.

0:19:24 > 0:19:25BELL RINGS

0:19:25 > 0:19:27Five seconds till live! Positions!

0:19:27 > 0:19:30TELEVISION NEWS THEME MUSIC

0:19:30 > 0:19:33Welcome back. So, let's talk about coding.

0:19:33 > 0:19:36A computer programme is a series of instructions,

0:19:36 > 0:19:39and just as a chef follows each step in a recipe,

0:19:39 > 0:19:42a computer follows the steps in whatever programme it's running.

0:19:42 > 0:19:46But if you skip a stage or leave out a part of the code,

0:19:46 > 0:19:48things might not work out so well.

0:19:48 > 0:19:49SLURP!

0:19:49 > 0:19:51Bleh!

0:19:51 > 0:19:54The difference is, computers don't make mistakes. Well, not often.

0:19:54 > 0:19:57And we've already achieved some truly remarkable

0:19:57 > 0:20:00results by programming computers in this way.

0:20:00 > 0:20:03Keyhole surgery, 3D printing, driverless cars...

0:20:03 > 0:20:04Furious Badgers.

0:20:04 > 0:20:07HE GROANS

0:20:07 > 0:20:10All right, Jack, computers are great, we get it.

0:20:10 > 0:20:13But, Doctor, can they really think like us?

0:20:16 > 0:20:19Computers can't think for themselves in the way we do, at least not yet.

0:20:19 > 0:20:21Phew!

0:20:21 > 0:20:24But with clever human programmers at the helm, the possibilities

0:20:24 > 0:20:28for computers really are limitless and could change the world.

0:20:28 > 0:20:30The only limit is your imagination.

0:20:30 > 0:20:34Well, I suppose it's time for all us coders to get coding.

0:20:34 > 0:20:35See you next time!

0:20:35 > 0:20:37TELEVISION NEWS THEME MUSIC

0:20:37 > 0:20:38And we're clear!

0:20:38 > 0:20:42Roll up, roll up. Who wants to try the first Squishy?

0:20:42 > 0:20:44SQUISHING AND RATTLING

0:20:46 > 0:20:50- Uh-oh!- THAT does not look good.

0:20:50 > 0:20:53It's got a life of its own!

0:20:53 > 0:20:54THEY YELP

0:20:54 > 0:20:56SQUISHING

0:20:56 > 0:20:57Any sign of them instructions?