1970s computers Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC

For the theme of our third special episode of Digital Planet, we're taking at look back at the history of computing with an episode recorded largely on location at Bletchley Park, which lies just outside Milton Keynes in the UK, a city which also happens to be home to The Open University.

The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park Featuring: Video Copyrighted imageCredit: MattCrypto via Wikimedia

An unassuming building in what is now Milton Keynes played a pivotal role in the Second World War - and the development of computing.  Watch now: The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park

Colossus Featuring: Audio Copyrighted imageCredit: Bill Thompson

At the heart of the code-breaking effort during WWII was an incredible piece of engineering - Colossus - the world's first programmable computing device.  Listen now: Colossus

Chiptunes Featuring: Audio Copyrighted imageCredit: Nixdorf via Wikimedia

It's not just the computer industry that took inspiration from the code-breaking machine Colossus. The BBC/OU series Digital Planet discovers a unique fusion of retro...  Listen now: Chiptunes

The Birth of Modern Computing Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC

The history of warfare has been a history of data as well as of violence - knowing your enemies' movements and plans has always been...  Read more : The Birth of Modern Computing

Digital Planet: BBC World Service in more depth:

OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - DIY technology Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University / Karen Parker

The 24th March 2009 edition of Digital Planet explored some of the latest DIY trends in technology.  Read more : OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - DIY technology

OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - Education Copyrighted imageCredit: The Open University / Karen Parker

Digital Planet explores how technology is changing education.  Read more : OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - Education

OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - Open source in South Africa Copyrighted imageCredit: wiki nocopyright SKopp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_South_Africa.svg

The World Service team visit Cape Town for a special edition discovering how technology is changing African lives.  Read more : OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - Open source in South Africa

OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - IT challenges in Ethiopia Creative commons imageCredit: TerriOSullivan via Flickr

Alex Little explains why viruses and infrastructure are a bigger problem than shortage of PCs: IT challenges in Ethiopia. [Image: Terri O'Sullivan/CC]  Read more : OU on the BBC: Digital Planet: BBC World Service - IT challenges in Ethiopia

BBC World Service Copyrighted imageCredit: BBC

In the UK, you can listen to the World Service on 648mw, digitally with DAB, Freeview or Sky; or through BBCWorldService.com.  Read more : BBC World Service