279 91 OU Discovering Physics Beyond Experience

From a 1992 transmission of a 1982 programme from The Open University. John Walters delivers an introduction to Quantum Mechanics in a calm, soothing Welsh drawl using what appear today to be very basic presentation techniques.
I find this programme fascinating however because it demonstrates rather nicely that a carefully worded and calmly delivered verbal tutorial, along with some basic props, are far more effective than wiz-bang effects.
However, on that subject, it could be said that this, as with many other OU programmes of the 70s/80s, were in the vanguard when it came to 'infographics', using multi-layer bluescreen (Chromakey/Colour Separation Overlay) techniques and early computer graphics to generate what these days people would think of simply as "Powerpoint slides", but this is a great reminder that the style of visual presentation predated Powerpoint, the templates and common usage of which do a disservice to this art form, that of making the complicated sound, and look, simple.
I do wonder if the OU/BBC kept all of these programmes. Given that the BBC wiped/skipped many children's and schools programmes in a mass cull in 1993, I tend to think that any programme 'past its shelf life' in 1993 may have been similarly chucked out. In fact, I foresaw this in 1992 (not knowing for many years what actually turned out to have happened in 1993) and recorded a few items 'just in case'.
Sadly there is a small section missing from this recording, where I reached the end of the tape and had to wind back and resume at an earlier point.

[@goblinwisdom]

loved sleepily climbing onto sofa and putting OU on as a kid/teen. just letting it wash over me.

[@zaftra]

yes

[@thesoundfromthestudio3567]

I use to sneak down and watch this when I was terribly wee.

[@philsharp758]

Thanks for posting.

[@Wadworth6XLad]

First aired on Sunday, 4th September 1983, and repeated many times over the course of the next decade.

[@mapesdhs597]

I avidly watched all these OU programs when I was about 14 or 15 in the mid 1980s. This one looks very familiar. I was lucky, when it came to school classes about nuclear power station tech, one of my physics teachers let me read his uni notes on Einstein's theories instead, because I'd already learned about nuclear theory and power generation on my own; so a shout out to Mr. Freeman of Arran High School, wherever he may be today, thanks dude for some memorable classes. :)

[@bottlecap57]

I just knew I should have considered electrons on every shot..

[@stephenedwards9872]

I did this course in 1982

[@roddale8412]

+BizMarkUK
You summed up OU vids from this era very well!
"it demonstrates rather nicely that a carefully worded and calmly delivered verbal tutorial, along with some basic props, are far more effective than wiz-bang effects"
I wish contemporary BBC/OU documentary makers would re-learn this basic rule.

[@oukid2633]

Alot of them are being deleted from youtube, which is so unfortunate. Because there aren't many topics on math history. Feels badman :'(

[@mikeyaureliush9017]

Thanks for uploading. So refreshing to see a well-explained concept, without any unnecessary gimmicks.

[@SamHodkin23]

Quick search of Genome suggests that this was shown just after midnight on Friday 4 September 1992. And the simplest methods are definitely the best ones.

[@mbvideoselection]

This must be from an earlier showing because I was without a VCR from July 1992 to October 1994.

[@SamHodkin23]

@@mbvideoselection The trailers at the end narrow it down to that date if Genome is to be believed, I don't disbelieve you of course!

[@ffibnogab7644]

I can imagine John Walters was a bit of a hustler at the snooker table, and would reiterate his opening words from this programme as part of trousering all comers. : )

[@starlaeuropa]

I'm starting the 60-point course S217 in October, and this video has been most helpful - thank you! :)

[@goblinwisdom]

starlaeuropa how did it go?

[@kimsung2384]

Thank you so much for uploading

[@wleon4068]

The Open University always reminded me of Dr Who, from the 1970s. Why? Because Dr Who, back then, was like watching a science lesson, lolol.

[@starlaeuropa]

Is it wrong that I wanted to be an OU presenter when I was a kid?

[@pgzzz]

Don’t let physics documentaries get in the way of your snooker pal 👍

[@wleon4068]

The Open University always reminded me of old versions of DR WHO. Why? Because Dr Who - especially during the 1970s - was filled with science too.

[@Ashleybissett]

Yes

[@matthewcolquhoun8486]

23:43

Gad Saad's Daad.

[@kiethblack3870]

How do you identify scientists? They are the people who never fall asleep or need sleep! [:-D] Talk about 'ASMR'. I about dozed off after the first 35-40 seconds. I'm not knocking science, no, it's only a joke. [;-)]