Sunday 26 May 1985 on Italia 1 the twenty-seventh and last episode of Bit-Storie di computer is broadcast. He made his debut in April 1984 and at the end of the season he even won a Telegatto. On average it was followed by three million people: today it would be considered a triumphal audience. It was bizarre the choice of a commercial TV to dedicate an important space – 40 minutes – to “a program of scientific dissemination of information technology”, but there was a champion in charge: Luciano De Crescenzo, who at the time was almost 60 years old. but a young spirit. He had been an executive at IBM for a long time, and at one point he left everything to become a writer, author, and television host. The public knew him as a philosopher, but the passion for computers remained.
How Bit was born he told himself in a very funny interview: “Berlusconi who, there is no denying, always has the right idea at the right time, sensed that the whole of Italy was wondering what the hell it was’ I’m blessed computer you heard so much about. to a program that had a didactic purpose and that, taking its cue from examples of computer applications in everyday life, went into the subject with simple words. The fact that I was chosen as the host, once again confirms my natural role as a storyteller . Above all, there was a need for someone who was a cross between Pippo Baudo and … what do I know … any engineer; here … I was the right person “.
When asked when in Italy the computer would have a wide diffusion he said: “The common man is still not ready because he lacks the relative culture. The truth is that computer science should be among the subjects to be taught since elementary school. The spread of the computer object, therefore, can only be the consequence of the spread of computer culture … the question of the moment is this: but ‘am I blessed computer what is it and above all what is it for? , we’ll be fine. ”
He died on July 18, 2019: we miss Luciano De Crescenzo very much.
We are building an almanac of Italian innovation: if you have an important date to share, write to me at [email protected]
.