Programma 101, The Machine That Changed the Worl
Programma 101, The Machine That Changed the Worl
In the early sixties, to talk about computer science meant talking about enormous calculators that were seen as pure science fiction to the vast majority of the population. In 1963 the IBM PDP-1 occupied an entire room, its cost was 100,000 US$ and it was in few specialized laboratories.
And while the world dreams about and fears this object of the future, in that small lab with tainted black windows, our 4 pioneers invented the P101, the machine that the American press defined: «The first desk top computer of the world» This is the birth of our age. But the American big Companies didn’t sit idly by. On June 10th, 1967, Hewlett Packard compensated Olivetti with 900.000 US$, implicitly recognizing that they had infringed the Olivetti’s patent of the P101 with their model HP 9100 and the inventors received a dollar each as a symbolic gesture, for that invention that changed the world. Programma 101 is the tale of the birth of our era, told through the voices of its protagonists and through an incredible archive material.
Produced by Zenit Arti Audiovisive in association with Docabout and Franti Nisi Masa.
In collaboration with Fox International Channels Italy, Yle Teema, Sbs Australia, UR The Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company.
With the support of MEDIA Programme EU and Piemonte Doc Film Fund – Fondo Regionale per il documentario
Year 2011, HD 52'
Written and directed by: Alessandro Bernard e Paolo Ceretto
Produced by: Massimo Arvat
Director of Photography: Paolo Rapalino
Editor: Marco Duretti
Original Music: Andrea Gattico
Featuring: Giovanni De Sandre, Gastone Garziera, Elserino Piol, Gianluigi Gabetti, Mario Bellini, Bruce Sterling, Tom Boellstorff, Dag Spicer, Robert Martinelli, Federico Faggin, Gordon Bell
Awards
Best Italian Documentary, Rome Doc Scient Festival, 2011
Best Italian Documentary, Vedere la Scienza, Milan, 2012
Imperia Film Festival, 2013
Festival
Bellaria Film Festival, 2012
Asolo Film Festival, 2012
Piemontemovie, 2012
Parma Video Film Festival, 2012
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