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Who misses Ceefax?
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Author:  paulzolo [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:46 am ]
Post subject:  Who misses Ceefax?

Last week, It struck me that it should be possible to emulate a teletext display using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. As it is possible to use custom fonts - using the @font-face CSS rule - I knew that there was at least a cat in hell’s chance of pulling off something that was reasonably close.

So, behold, my graphics-free CEEFAX replacement:
http://www.worldofpaul.com/teletext/

Some points to consider:
1 - This has not been tested in Windows. It should work, but as my Windows HD had a PSU failure the other week, it’ve not been able to test. I’ve tested it in Safari and Firefox on a Mac.

2 - It uses three specially created fonts that are copies of BBC Micro type faces - specifically the MODE 7 font and the blocky characters. I also create a half width version of the teletext font so I can do double height text.

3 - I have tried to follow the “rules” of teletext. That is a colour change, switch to graphics and text, etc. all require a control character in the flow of text, and that control character is displayed as a space. I break rule this in a couple of places, just to keep my sanity in tact.

4 - Data in the News and Weather maps pages come from various BBC RSS feeds. So it’s using live data.

5 - The weather map uses the correct Teletext dimensions for characters across and down the page. It seems a little “tall” to me. Other pages seem more comfortable height-wise, but are infact shorter vertically. It may be down to it being on an “alien” kind of display that makes it look wrong.

6 - iOS does not like it that much. I am not sure why - maybe Mobile Safari has an issue with the encoded web fonts. It’s either that or its display of the   character is out of step with Safari on my Mac (I know that the handling of this character can be questionable - though in my fonts it’s the dame width as the regular space).

I have more ideas to expand this - but it requires some thought and pondering.

Anyway, enjoy!

Author:  HeatherKay [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Who misses Ceefax?

There's something on the FontSquirrel web site that gives compatibility when you go to create a @fontface package. iOS does seem to have issues with the TTF format, I think.

Author:  paulzolo [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:30 am ]
Post subject:  Who misses Ceefax?

Font Squirrel packages seemed to be problematic too. I'll need to take a closer look when they are back online.

Author:  Spreadie [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Who misses Ceefax?

Reminds me of early nineties webpages and BBS sites. :)

Author:  paulzolo [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Who misses Ceefax?

You can now type in the image number, and wait for it to tick around to it. Right now, page numbers which work are 100,101 and 400.

Also, pressing R does a reveal.

Author:  l3v1ck [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Who misses Ceefax?

Ceefax was brilliant. Dead useful in it's day. But do I miss it?
No.
We have EPG's for Freeview which are much better than ceefax for TV guides.
I have the internet for football results tables etc. Same for the weather.
Yes, Ceefax may be quicker if you're already sat in front of the TV, but I still don't actively miss it.

Author:  Amnesia10 [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Who misses Ceefax?

I agree in its day it was brilliant. Though it has been surpassed in so many ways via the Internet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Author:  pcernie [ Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Who misses Ceefax?

I only stopped using Ceefax when it became a hassle with the latest TV - I'd still find it more interesting overall than switching on one of the computer devices and waiting for it to boot! Used to read all sorts on it, there was just something brilliant about the style of it :geek:

Well done, Paul!

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