Will be on 16th Jan. Interview by Professor Jim Al-Khalili
Series has been running for a few years.
"Eben Upton on Raspberry Pi
When Eben Upton was in his twenties, he wanted to get children thinking about how computers think, to boost the number of people applying to read computer science at university. He dreamt of putting a chip in every classroom. The result was Raspberry Pi, a tiny gadget, little bigger than a credit card, that can be hooked up to any keyboard and monitor, to create a programmable PC. And it's cheap. Raspberry Pi Zero, sticker price just £5, was given away free with a computer magazine in 2015. Eben tells Jim how it all began, in his loft with soldering irons and post it notes, and how, by ruthlessly pursuing a philanthropic goal he became CEO of a highly successful business enterprise."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ly60f
- Paul Webster
- Posts: 856
- Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:49 am
- Location: London, UK
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Just a timely reminder that this radio programme will be broadcast in the UK at 0900 am GMT tomorrow, Tuesday 16th January 2018.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Or available on the podcast any time afterwards.
Electronic and Computer Engineer
Pi Interests: Home Automation, IOT, Python and Tkinter
Pi Interests: Home Automation, IOT, Python and Tkinter
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
I have it set to record - just have to remember to switch on the TV tomorrow morning. 

Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Irritating - my recorder won't record radio channels!
-
- Posts: 15829
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:36 pm
- Location: Vallejo, CA (US)
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Interesting interview.
I liked his comment that he loathed de-bugging. I must be odd - the joy at finally finding that obscure and irritating, possibly silly, error is akin to ... well, insert your own simile
One thing he didn't mention was how he came to choose the Broadcom chip. But maybe there wasn't time to include that sort of thing.
I liked his comment that he loathed de-bugging. I must be odd - the joy at finally finding that obscure and irritating, possibly silly, error is akin to ... well, insert your own simile
One thing he didn't mention was how he came to choose the Broadcom chip. But maybe there wasn't time to include that sort of thing.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
A number of historical things missed out, but time was limited. Interesting nevertheless!
Our long time contributor PeterO gets a mention!
Our long time contributor PeterO gets a mention!
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi Ltd.
Working in the Applications Team.
Working in the Applications Team.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
There are still a lot of people I meet who don't realise quite how big the PI 'empire' has become, still think it's 'a couple of nerds running a charity on a shoe string' with no idea of the huge amount of money involved.Eben tells Jim ... how, by ruthlessly pursuing a philanthropic goal he became CEO of a highly successful business enterprise."
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Now he is a celeb', how long before we see him on 'Strictly'?
--------------
The purpose of a little toe is to ensure you keep your furniture in the right place.
The purpose of a little toe is to ensure you keep your furniture in the right place.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Some bloke called Eben sitting opposite me right now, just told me the sales figures for last year and profits.hippy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:25 amThere are still a lot of people I meet who don't realise quite how big the PI 'empire' has become, still think it's 'a couple of nerds running a charity on a shoe string' with no idea of the huge amount of money involved.Eben tells Jim ... how, by ruthlessly pursuing a philanthropic goal he became CEO of a highly successful business enterprise."
Impressive, as in, blimey, THAT MANY??
(Can't give actual figures for reasons).
We sold more Pi's last year than Sinclair sold computers in total! It really is big business. No longer a charity on a shoestring.
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi Ltd.
Working in the Applications Team.
Working in the Applications Team.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Basically, a history of the Pi, from the man who made it all possible, but an interesting listen none the less. 

Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"

PeterO
Discoverer of the PI2 XENON DEATH FLASH!
Interests: C,Python,PIC,Electronics,Ham Radio (G0DZB),1960s British Computers.
"The primary requirement (as we've always seen in your examples) is that the code is readable. " Dougie Lawson
Interests: C,Python,PIC,Electronics,Ham Radio (G0DZB),1960s British Computers.
"The primary requirement (as we've always seen in your examples) is that the code is readable. " Dougie Lawson
- Paul Webster
- Posts: 856
- Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:49 am
- Location: London, UK
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Given there was quite a lot spoken about BBC not wanting to take it on ... I would have asked about BBC micro:bit that came out later and late) and is aimed directly at schools (with a huge giveaway to get it started.
eg was it the success of RPi that dragged BBC back into this arena?
From their site:
"the BBC micro:bit is the BBC's most ambitious education initiative in 30 years, with an ambition to inspire digital creativity and develop a new generation of tech pioneers"
eg was it the success of RPi that dragged BBC back into this arena?
From their site:
"the BBC micro:bit is the BBC's most ambitious education initiative in 30 years, with an ambition to inspire digital creativity and develop a new generation of tech pioneers"
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Except the program was about Eben and Raspberry Pi, and nothing to do with the Microbit. As to whether the RPI success kicked that off, I don't believe so, but if Eben walks past, I'll ask him.Paul Webster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2018 1:57 pmGiven there was quite a lot spoken about BBC not wanting to take it on ... I would have asked about BBC micro:bit that came out later and late) and is aimed directly at schools (with a huge giveaway to get it started.
eg was it the success of RPi that dragged BBC back into this arena?
From their site:
"the BBC micro:bit is the BBC's most ambitious education initiative in 30 years, with an ambition to inspire digital creativity and develop a new generation of tech pioneers"
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi Ltd.
Working in the Applications Team.
Working in the Applications Team.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
I'm pleased it has done well but not surprised. After all I was predicting a million sales of Pi originals and Pi Zeroes when people were refusing to believe such numbers were even remotely likely and laughing at the preposterous ridiculousness of such fanciful predictions

I imagine there was quite a wad gifted to the Foundation last year. It would be nice to have more detail in the accounts on what exactly that money is then spent on but I guess that's the Foundation's department rather than RPT's.
-
- Posts: 15829
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:36 pm
- Location: Vallejo, CA (US)
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
When it's railroad time, it's railroad time. And Eben seems to be Chief Engineer.hippy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2018 4:10 pmI'm pleased it has done well but not surprised. After all I was predicting a million sales of Pi originals and Pi Zeroes when people were refusing to believe such numbers were even remotely likely and laughing at the preposterous ridiculousness of such fanciful predictions
I imagine there was quite a wad gifted to the Foundation last year. It would be nice to have more detail in the accounts on what exactly that money is then spent on but I guess that's the Foundation's department rather than RPT's.
The RPF finances are, if I'm not mistaken, a public record in the UK, probably through annual tax reporting. It'll be a summary, but you'd probably go blind if you had to wade through all the details, anyway. (At least, I know I would. I am *not* an accountant and I don't want to be.)
-
- Posts: 15829
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:36 pm
- Location: Vallejo, CA (US)
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Hey, Eben...a real programmer can write a FORTRAN program in any language.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
That's correct, but it's basically (rounded) £17 million in, £10 million spent, total funds at the end of 2016; £14 million.W. H. Heydt wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2018 4:52 pmThe RPF finances are, if I'm not mistaken, a public record in the UK, probably through annual tax reporting.
There's details on how the business costs are arrived at but little on how the Foundation is spending its money on its actual goals, who's getting support, which projects are being funded, etc.
That's not a requirement for the accounts which have to be submitted but it would be nice to know where the money was going. I'm much less interested in knowing 6 members of staff got paid over £120K in 2016, than what good causes are benefiting.
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
If the interview was done in the same manner as we used to do "This is Your Life", etc. (since radio is merely television without the pictures) I would guess the pair rabbited for a couple of hours, and the less interesting bits were chopped out.Paul Webster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2018 1:57 pmGiven there was quite a lot spoken about BBC not wanting to take it on ... I would have asked about BBC micro:bit that came out later ...
-
- Posts: 15829
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:36 pm
- Location: Vallejo, CA (US)
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
You're probably right. It'd be fun to get ones hands on the rest of it....
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Sh ... ryNumber=0W. H. Heydt wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2018 4:52 pm
The RPF finances are, if I'm not mistaken, a public record in the UK, probably through annual tax reporting. It'll be a summary, but you'd probably go blind if you had to wade through all the details, anyway. (At least, I know I would. I am *not* an accountant and I don't want to be.)
How To ask Questions :- http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
WARNING - some parts of this post may be erroneous YMMV
1QC43qbL5FySu2Pi51vGqKqxy3UiJgukSX
Covfefe
WARNING - some parts of this post may be erroneous YMMV
1QC43qbL5FySu2Pi51vGqKqxy3UiJgukSX
Covfefe
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
Full filing history and accounts are available at -
RPF : https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/comp ... ng-history
RPT : https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/comp ... ng-history
Re: Eben Upton on BBC Radio 4 "The Life Scientific"
I wonder who the 120+ earners are. I can guess 4, not sure of the others!
I think the figures will change dramatically for the following year - massive increase in engineering staff, and they ain't cheap.
I think the figures will change dramatically for the following year - massive increase in engineering staff, and they ain't cheap.
Principal Software Engineer at Raspberry Pi Ltd.
Working in the Applications Team.
Working in the Applications Team.