Despite the fact that you can't have one without the other, technology has not been well served by television. A promising show like The Net on BBC2 suffered by virtue of its late-night time slot while the content was judged by many to be far too erudite for a populist TV show. Given the ratings success a science show like Tomorrow's World enjoyed and the fact that certain games programmes attract a large audience, it's baffling to note the absence of shows based solely on technology issues from the schedules.
Tech TV, RTE's new technology programme, aims to change that. Not only will the show get a 13-week run from September 8th but it will also enjoy a prime 8.00pm time-slot on Network 2, a significant first for a programme of this nature.
Presented by John Collins (editor of PC Live) and Keelin Shanley (former reporter on arts programme Black Box), Tech TV will focus on how technology is changing and affecting the way the population live and work.
According to producer Andy Hudson of Tech Arts Media, the show will have a broad audience appeal. "You want to reach as many people as possible but you don't want to patronise anyone either. It's a very tough line to tread, especially with technology. It would be much easier to be specific because you don't have to explain as much. We can't do that, we have to assume limited computer knowledge, someone who might use a computer at work for word-processing or may have one at home that's underused. The programme will show them that there's more to their computer than just word-processing. We'll show them where to find things on the Net and then how to download them".
However, according to John Collins, there will still be items which will appeal to the techie sector of the audience. "Nobody knows everything so there will be a focus on items that the experienced user may not know about. We will be focusing on new technology that's coming out or that's coming down the line. If you're into games and you just use your PC for games, you may think you know all there is to know but you won't have done what we have done and gone inside the studio creating the games."
Tech TV is sponsored by the Information Society Commission, the body established by the Government last year to build awareness of the information society and technology in Ireland. The programme will mirror the society's aims in many ways and, as Collins notes, "a mainstream show going out at 8 o'clock in the evening is perfect for them because their brief is to bring technology to as many groups as possible so there will slots on how technology is used by the disabled and elderly, for example".
Given the programme's time slot and brief, will there be a tendency to dumb down certain issues? "You can't go on at 8 o'clock and be esoteric," says Hudson. "Our job is to demystify technology. Every day, someone somewhere is producing a new strand complete with its own jargon and buzzwords and it's hard to keep up, even if you're in tune. Our programme is not pitched at the experts, it tries to look at general issues from an everyman position. I would be gratified if someone made the decision to go online or purchase a PC after watching our programme. If we have excited them enough by the possibility of what technology can do, we're doing our job."
Collins points out that the show is not there to glorify technology just for the sake of it. "We're not going to be a vehicle for technology companies to push the next big thing, we have to see that there is something to it. It's not about saying `this is a great piece of technology', it's more founded in saying `this is what it can do for you'. It is easier to do it on TV because you can push the buttons and see what it does and see what it looks like. A lot of programmes try to be cutting-edge and get very excited about new products which may never even make it to the marketplace. We're going to be reflecting what is actually happening."
In terms of content, Tech TV will cover all bases. A science strand (the first one will focus on GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites including a report on the features of the new Lexus), Website reviews, a Gizmo Of The Week section, The Comeback Kid (for example, the rise, fall and rise again of Mini-Discs) and a lot of viewer interaction via the show's Website (www.techtv.ie). "We want people to recommend Websites and interesting things they've found on the Net. Our Website will be like the show's back-up engine, its content will increase week by week," says Hudson.
The timing certainly seems right for a show like this. Collins agrees: "Five years ago, the mainstream wasn't as conscious of technology as they are now. It was something that was tolerated, but now people get more excited about technology because they see the possibilities. Look at the Internet explosion, that's brought technology to everyone's attention. You see an ad on a bus for someone like Advance Tyres, there's an email address instead of a normal address. This programme might have existed a few years ago but it would have been on at 11pm or midnight and certainly not in a prime slot. There has been a sea-change in perceptions over the period."
Jim Carroll is at fierce@tinet.ie