Running time approximately 30 minutes.
Mr Fitz is an unusual Science Teacher in that he has a time-machine! With this machine, he is able to take his pupils back to interact with the key individuals involved in creating the world’s first computer. The presentation also covers the vitally important theoretical work done by Ada Lovelace, one of the few female mathematical geniuses of her day. Her contribution to computer programming is still valued highly today. This presentation can be used over and over again by schools as we do not charge royalty fees. Once you buy the play, it is yours to save for future year groups.
17 SPEAKING CHARACTERS.
The presentation makes use of 8 visuals (downloadable – we give sources).
As with all our plays, there are full production notes that give advice on scenery, costumes and props.
NO ROYALTIES, PHOTOCOPYING LICENCE INCLUDED.
Here’s a sample
(A classroom. Modern on one side, with chairs, tables, and an interactive white board linked to a laptop, upstage centre. Next to it is FIZZY’s ‘Time Machine’ a ‘control’ box with large red button. On the other side of the stage is an old fashioned table and chair, with inkwell (pretend ink), paper and nibbed pen.)
(The class is waiting for the arrival of FIZZY and MISS SMITH.)
JESS
Are you doing anything this weekend, Mary?
MARY
(She is playing a game on her smartphone.) Just a minute, I’m trying to get to the end of this level.
GEORGE
Do you want my help? That game’s dead easy.
MARY
No I don’t, George! I can do it myself.
JESS
Just because you’re a computer geek doesn’t mean you have to play other people’s games for them.
MARY
Oh. You’ve made me go wrong now, I’ll have to start all over again.
SALLY
See what you’ve done now, George, you’ve upset Mary. She’s been trying win that game for days.
GEORGE
More reason for me to help.
PETER
The idea is to win the game yourself. What’s the point of having someone else win it for you?
(FIZZY and MISS SMITH enter)
FIZZY
What’s going on here?
PETER
Nothing really, Mr Fitz. Just the merits of winning computer games.
SMITH
Are there any merits in winning?
SALLY
Yes, Miss Smith. Man – or woman, against the machine. Can you outwit the computer?
FIZZY
The computer can’t think for itself, you know. It’s programmed to follow a preordained algorithm but it can accomplish an immense amount work in a very short time. It’s one step up from a calculating machine.
SMITH
Do you know who invented the first computer?
(Shaking heads.)
FIZZY
Well, perhaps we should take a trip back in time to find out. Take your seats and we’ll begin.
(FIZZY presses the large button on a control box on his desk and with the sound of the wind the classroom is transported to its destination.)
FIZZY
Well, here we are. The date is 1814, just over two hundred years ago.
GEORGE
Two hundred years ago? I thought computers began with Bill Gates in the 1970s!
(Laughter from the class.)
FIZZY
No, George. Bill Gates and Microsoft are software developers. They don’t make computers, they created the operating system that enables others to use computers easily and productively.