Topic 81 of 111: Connections and other James Burke documentaries
Tue, Nov 19, 2002 (19:29) |
Sam Blob (AlFor)
British science historian James Burke did an amazing series of documentaries in the late '70s called Connections. He has since done two sets of sequels, and also one called The Day The Universe Changed about points in history when the fundamental thinking of Western scince changed dramatically.
But Connections was nothing short of amazing. It showed the interconnection between events in history and scientific breakthroughs and vice-versa, with a massive dose of irreverent humour thrown in.
What are your opinions on James Burke documentaries in general and Connections in particular?
(I counted all the /i s, the italics shouldn't spill over in this one. This site really needs a preview and/or edit function...)
3 responses total.
Topic 81 of 111 [tv]: Connections and other James Burke documentaries
Response 1 of 3: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Wed, Nov 20, 2002 (06:26) * 1 lines
I saw the first episode and I agree on both counts. Great show and, yes, we need a preview and/or edit function. The latter is not a minor change though, but I will explore it.
Topic 81 of 111 [tv]: Connections and other James Burke documentaries
Response 2 of 3: Marcia (MarciaH) * Sun, Oct 2, 2005 (18:12) * 1 lines
This is my all time favorite series on TV. I moved my copies of the show all the way from Hawaii to the midwest. As far as I am concerned, he can entertain me and I need little else to watch. Absolutely brilliant !!
Topic 81 of 111 [tv]: Connections and other James Burke documentaries
Response 3 of 3: Conf admin (cfadm) * Sat, Jul 1, 2006 (21:15) * 25 lines
Welcome to the home page of the Burke Institute for Innovation in Education and its flagship project, the Knowledge Web.
Founded by James Burke, the author, host, and narrator of the acclaimed television series Connections, the Institute exists to encourage innovative uses of educational technology.
The Knowledge Web today is an activity rather than a web site—an expedition in time, space, and technology to map the interior landscape of human thought and experience. Thanks to the work of a team of dedicated volunteers, it will soon be an interactive space on the web where students, teachers, and other knowledge seekers can explore information in a highly interconnected, holistic way that allows for an almost infinite number of paths of exploration among people, places, things, and events.
The Vision: New Ways of Thinking
The Project: Mapping the Accomplishments of the Past and the Possibilities of the Future
About Us: The Institute and the Team
We invite you to share the excitement of both the Institute and the Knowledge Web by browsing this site, and we encourage you to participate in the adventure of mapping the landscape of historical and scientific knowledge and to become a user of the Knowledge Web when it is complete.
Question: How was Napoleon important to the development of the modern computer?
Answer: Napoleon's troops in Egypt buy shawls and start a fashion craze. In Europe the shawls get made on automated, perforated-paper-control looms. This gives an American engineer Herman Hollerith the idea to automate calculation using punch cards. Which get used to control ENIAC, the first electronic computer.
—From The Pinball Effect, by James Burke, Back Bay Books,1996
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http://www.k-web.org/
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