The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

Geoffrey G. Gouriet: Ripples in the Ether: The Science of Radio Communication

In his 1972 CHRISTMAS LECTURES, Geoffrey G Gouriet explores the past, present and future of radio communications, and the science that lies behind it. Radio waves are all around us, continuously being produced and received through man-made devices enabling us to connect with each other and communicate information. Geoffrey Gouriet, through the course of six Lectures, takes us on a journey through history from the first telephone to the 'Viewphone' and with the aid of exciting demonstrations, he explains how devices in our house like the TV translate broadcasted signals into moving pictures.

Where to Watch The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures • Geoffrey G. Gouriet: Ripples in the Ether: The Science of Radio Communication

6 Episodes

  • How it All Began
    E1
    How it All BeganNowadays, we all take for granted our transistor radios, hi-fi, and colour television sets. Yet to people 50 years ago all these things would have appeared absolutely fantastic. With the use of many fascinating experiments GEOFFREY GOURIET takes us back even farther-to those first exciting responses of magnetism and electricity which meant the birth of radio as we know it today.
  • Getting Rid of the Wires
    E2
    Getting Rid of the WiresGeoffrey Gouriet, Chief Engineer, BBC Research and Development, explains and demonstrates how electricity and magnetism can 'leapfrog' to form radio waves, the 'ripples in the ether.'
  • The Sound of Broadcasting
    E3
    The Sound of BroadcastingNowadays when we listen to the radio not only do we understand the words but we can identify the persons speaking; not only do we recognise the tune, but we enjoy the quality. Geoffrey Gouriet , Chief Engineer, BBC Research and Development, demonstrates how this has been achieved.
  • Pictures With and Without Wires
    E4
    Pictures With and Without WiresHow was the great leap from radio to television achieved? GEOFFREY GOURIET , Chief Engineer, BBC Research and Development, shows how the pioneers of television solved their problem of transmitting pictures at fantastic speeds.
  • But Electrons aren't Coloured!
    E5
    But Electrons aren't Coloured!So far Geoffrey Gouriet , Chief Engineer, BBC Research and Development, has shown us that electric signals can easily ' see' light and shade; but how much more difficult it must be to reproduce the subtleties of colour. He now demonstrates how electric signals can measure and transmit accurate colour pictures.
  • Vision of the Future
    E6
    Vision of the FutureGeoffrey Gouriet , Chief Engineer, BBC Research and Development, shows us some recent discoveries and helps us to appreciate the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

 

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