1972: Can a FORGER FOOL this MACHINE? | Tomorrow's World | Retro Tech | BBC Archive

Michael Rodd learnt about a computer machine that detects forgery.
The device, designed as a writing pad, makes it possible for a computer to feel the way a signature is being committed to paper, and recognises the differences in it's unique timings.
Clip taken from Tomorrow's World, originally broadcast on Tuesday 18 April, 1972.
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[@76ToneCrome]

My signature fluctuates wildly. It's never the same. On another note, I feel very nostalgic for my old Etch-a-sketch.

[@Jack_Warner]

Agree. My signature fluctuates between the pressure of a hammer, to that of a feather. No machine could catch me out.

[@michellefalleur960]

Totally agree on both of those things, -- Loved Etch-a-sketch !

[@Jack_Warner]

Michael Rodd, another of the BBC's excellent presenters, along with John Stapleton.

[@TheNinjaMarmot]

I like these little Timecapsules. Shows show far we've gone...
And sometimes how far we've gone back.

[@petergivenbless900]

Nice of the police to use their sirens to let the "forger" know they're coming!

[@David.L291]

that was soooooo funny!!!

[@simong9067]

The cat has left the basket. The cat has left the basket.

[@MrDastardly]

Michael Rodd, loved listening to him on Tomorrow’s World. 👏👏

[@wisteela]

Amazing for 1972.
How that pad worked is also like how the pressure sensitive electronic drum kit worked that they showed in the 80s, which BBC Archive have uploaded.

[@analogueman123456787]

Ah yes, Michael Rodd. He's still with us too, at the grand-old age of 80. 😊
A time when it was all about the subject being presented, rather than today's talentless reality TV seeking "Look at me, I'm famous" plebs!
Give me Michael Rodd, William Woollard, James Burke and Raymond Baxter any day.

[@BuckRolly1]

Amazing what this technology will be able to do...

[@DavidHembrow]

20 years later i was one of those working on one of the world's first smartphones, the EO, which used handwriting recognition on the touchscreen for input. Tbh, the handwriting recognition never worked that well for me...

[@bardo0007]

Nice prediction indeed, remember this was 1972!

[@hopebgood]

Michael Rodd always reminds me of Screen Test 😀

[@szita2000]

Isn't it funny that in 2024 we have DNA, Fingerprint, face recognition, yet we have to rely on good old fashioned scribble on a piece of paper when it comes to signing something.

[@octaviussludberry9016]

RODD!!!!

[@algrant5293]

I was so in love with Michael Rodd 😅 I desperately wanted a stop motion camera so I could make my own movies and be on his show (which I can’t recall the name of) .
We couldn’t afford a camera, could barely afford the tv ,looking back.

[@DustyCustard]

Screen Test

[@robloxpathe9296]

i read the title as 'CAN A BURGER FOOL THIS MACHINE?'

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

We know what your mind was on- dinner!

[@jonathonmorin6820]

But disappointed eh lol

[@maskthefacelessone]

Good evening.

[@mfx1]

It'll never catch on.

[@djdrwatson]

4:45 That's a great ideal, Mike. They could add a built-in screen too and the option of using your fingers to write or control it. i-Pad would be a good name. It could be a huge success, what do you reckon?!

[@dancarter482]

You've been watching too much Blake's 7. Computers are NEVER going to catch on. Far better off investing everything you have in British Leyland!

[@TecraX2]

@@dancarter482 Personally, I've invested all my money in Kodak, Digital photography will never catch on...

[@dancarter482]

@@TecraX2 Wise move! I might follow suit with the cheeky half mil' I'd set aside for _Sinclair C5's_ and _Amstrad._

[@ernststavroblofeld1961]

I like forgers!

[@MichaelBosley]

OK GO

[@JasmineSurrealVideos]

I have, it's called a Tablet lol. It does look like a primitive version, about the same size, writing on it with a pen (or stylus now), it does math on a built in calculator app, and can lock me out if I put in the wrong code (or wrong signature in that case).

[@David.L291]

I bet it does maths too 🙄

[@GeVeBeGaming]

Amazing for the time but can you imagine taking an Iphone back to that year, I mean it would be a brick with no internet or cell connection but would still look like it was from an advanced civilisation.

[@andylaugel4241]

And it is still a clock, calendar, address book, compass, level, audio/video recorder with playback, calculator, text editor, plus whatever internet independent apps you've got (ereader, games,etc). All in a tiny package with an impressively flat screen.

[@thomasawl]

4:45 nah, way too unlikely.

[@simmadpaul2880]

A successful demo. This isn't Tomorrow's World. 😂😂😂

[@analogueman123456787]

This was pre-filmed, that's why. Live in the studio though was a completely different matter altogether! 😄

[@TestGearJunkie.]

@@analogueman123456787 Pre = before. So this was before it was filmed, clever lot, these presenters

[@markiliff]

They invented the graphics tablet but used it for arithmetic. Wow!

[@wisteela]

I think the graphics tablet already existed, but no pressure sensing.

[@RetroJack]

More than 50 years later and computers still suck at handwriting recognition.

[@wisteela]

Depends on your handwriting.

[@syedalamgir5838]

Signature never match properly.

[@fredo1070]

Alan Partridge

[@dougsimmonds5385]

Boooooring

[@analogueman123456787]

Yes you are, aren't you...