625 looks inside the BBC's virtual globe player

In January, someone attempted to sell a BBC globe generator on ebay. The item wasn't sold in the end. But if anyone is interested in the box of tricks used to animated virtual BBC 1 globe - or COW as it was known at the Corporation - introduced in 1985, I have created a web page all about it. The page also includes screenshots of the test images produced by the box, including the globe without any land on it and the land without any sea around it.

http://625.uk.com/tv_logos/bbc1_85.htm

It was very interesting to read that page, and it was very well presented.

I noticed that page last night, a good read that. Where did you get that information?

Most of the info came from a guy at BBC R&D who told me they had discovered two abandoned BBC globe machines, and by using bits from both, they managed to get one of them working. The screenshots and video are captured directly from the machine. He was also able to gain permission for me to publish the pictures. Other information came from a TV graphics book (I can dig out the title if anyone's interested) I found at Westminster Reference Library. A member of the BBC presentation department also provided some tidbits, and then I later discovered the BBC Engineering Information sheet on the development of the player (which can be found in the links section at the bottom of the page).

And thanks to you and the poster above for your kind comments!