Given how much of a factor that technology, or even pseudo-technology, is on Doctor Who, it is certainly not a surprise the program may be called upon to help expand our practical knowledge. After all, Doctor Who is being used as a platform to help people learn about computer programming, and may have an interactive aspect to Season Nine as well.

It should come as no surprise then that, over its history, Doctor Who would also be used to promote certain products. Prime Computer was one such company to use the popular science fiction franchise in such a manner — the Fourth Doctor and Romana appeared in a series of rather entertaining advertisements in the early 1980s.

Observe:

The commercials are also a delightful look into the interactions between the two characters. The pure magnetism of Tom baker’s incarnation, and the entertaining way that Romana gets the computer to do her bidding in the third advertisement, hearken back to the golden age of Doctor Who, when the classic show was at the height of its popularity.

It is also an interesting look back at the technology of the period and as to what was considered amazing. Almost instant computations? Computers actually *talking* to one another? Being able to access files and look up information using your voice? This is certainly understandable why prime Computers would have been used on Gallifrey – that level of technology is amazing!

Of course, back in 1980, such capabilities probably did seem like Time Lord technology. It will be like how, when our children are grown, they will laugh at the idea that iPads were considered worthy of usage in the Nethersphere, especially when the Doctor has access to the best technology throughout time and space. When our children are essentially living in the ShadowRun world with their cybernetic enhancements and linking directly into the internet with their minds, they will laugh at the concept of modems and feel our technology was on par with cavemen discovering fire. At least, that’s what I thought looking at an 8-track player when I was in my teens.

Even though Doctor Who is in the midst of a renaissance, it is hard to imagine the Twelfth Doctor and Clara selling computers. Fortunately, we have the joy of watching the Fourth Doctor and Romana in what are some truly excellent advertisements. In fact, the only way they could be better would be if the Doctor offered Prime a Jelly Baby.