On September 19th, 2021, the Broadcasting House programme on Radio 4 asked me to reflect on my career covering technology as my time at the BBC drew to a close. I wrote an essay revealing that my relationship with computers got off to a shaky start.

Computers and Me

Tommy was the winning bidder for a Blackberry Passport in my Children in Need auction. But something wasn't right - his London address didn't exist, and when I got some dubious PayPal emails saying he'd paid and wanted the item sent to Nigeria I decided to give him a call...

Tommy and an eBay scam

"Michael" from the service and maintenance department of Windows Computer calls. He tells me my computer is in trouble and offer some help - very kind. Things start well but eventually deteriorate.

"Michael" from Windows wants to help

Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode's weekly film programme on Radio 5 Live is one of the finest things on radio - and an essential part of my Saturday routine as I jog around the park listening to the podcast. Some years ago I introduced my son to Wittertainment, so imagine my delight when this week a letter was read out...

My boy's on Wittertainment!

At the beginning of BBC's AI week I took a robot into the Today Programme studio to meet John Humphrys and Sarah Montague. Hilarity ensued..

John Humphrys meets a robot

My telephone number is listed with the Telephone Preference Service so should not get junk calls. So when a man called, read out my name and address "from a public database" and asked me to do a consumer survey I wanted to know more...

A man from Cardiff calls to do a survey

My mum's sister - the last surviving sibling - is 99. And on the Queen's birthday she was invited onto Woman's Hour with another ninety-something to talk to Jenni Murray.  She's "Honor" Harlow on the programme - but to all of her family she has always been Aunty Bunty, a really lovely person with a sunny outlook on life.

Bunty does Woman's Hou

On Saturday morning I was asked to take my Amazon Echo onto the Today programme and demonstrate it. I knew this would be tricky - moving it off its home wifi network makes Alexa very nervous. I set her up about half an hour beforehand using a mobile hotspot. In the event Alexa managed to answer three questions before pegging out - and at least we learned about John Humphrys' first name.

Talking to Alexa on Today

On the  last day of a BBC career which spanned the World at One, New York on 9/11, Berlin and South Korea, Steve Evans gets a fine send-off from Eddie Mair on PM.

PM's Farewell to Steve Evans

Microsoft has sunk a data centre in the sea off Orkney to investigate whether it can boost energy efficiency. The data centre, a white cylinder containing computers, could sit on the sea floor for up to five years.
 But the real excitement is that I got to talk about it on Around Orkney, Radio Orkney's breakfast programme.

Talking underwater data centres on Radio Orkney

Economics might not sound a barrel of laughs but come to Kilkenny in November to find out why it can be. Kilkenomics aims to mix economics wit comedy, with a comedian chairing every panel. The BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones went along for the Today Programme and spoke to David McWilliams, Colm O' Regan and Matina Stevis-Gridneff

rorycellan

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