NODD (Nexus Orthicon Display Device)



NODD (pronounced "noddy"), which stands for Nexus Orthicon Display Device, was the method used for generating identifications for the BBC1 and BBC2 television networks from 1963 to February 1985.

About NODD
The term NODD can be used to mean a variety of different things. The actual definition of the NODD system is the process of filming an image in black and white and electronically adding colour before the image itself is aired. The term NODD, or NODD (Noddy) Room can also be used to describe the location where the idents, clocks and other presentation devices are arranged atop and beside each other in front of a black and white camera that can be remotely operated to be pointing at a number of idents. The system was designed by BBC designer Murray Andrew.

The BBC first employed the system in 1969 when the introduced the new mirror globe ident for BBC1, and the introduction of colour to this service. The system was easy to use, as the remote operating allowed the announcer to control it him/herself with ease, and allowed the idents to be of no fixed length so the globe or clock symbols could continue for many minutes at a time. It was also easy to change the colours used to make something such as a rebrand easy to perform.

The BBC1 Mirrored Globe
The most famous use of the NODD system was the BBC1 mirrored globes used between 1969 and 1985, albeit with minor colour changes. The globe model featured an internally lit globe, with the sea being painted on in metallic black paint, and the land masses being clear, in front of a concave mirror. The original mirror globe ident was introduced on 15 November 1969 and featured blue continents and legend against a black background. The legend included the word 'Colour' after the BBC1 corporate logo, both to indicate the new format the programme were being broadcast in, but also to act as a subtle reminder to the vast majority of viewers, still watching in black and white, to buy a colour TV set and the much more expensive colour television licence which financed the BBC. The colours of blue and black were chosen because they are still easily distinguishable to those with a black and white set, as the vast majority of the population still did not own a colour set. The ident was modified in 1972 to include the new, rounder BBC logo, which also resulted in the 'Colour' legend appearing in an italic serif font. There was also another version of the globe that didn't contain a 'Colour' legend which was used before black-and-white programmes, of which there were still many in the BBC1 schedule in the early 70s.

In December 1974, the globe was altered again: the colours were changed to yellow continents with a dark blue background. The legend was changed to simply BBC1, this time in Futura typeface, and the 'Colour' identification was removed. This version lasted until 1981, when it was again changed, the colours changed to a green globe with dark blue background, with a double striped BBC1 legend. Throughout all these years, the globe model itself was altered as it had to be frequently re-painted and modified. This led to a number of odd variations: the tip of South Africa was pointed in some 1981 variations, and the Pacific islands more pronounced in other models.

Alongside the mirrored globe, a number of other presentational devices were used, the main one of these being the clock. The clock also used the NODD system, allowing the colours to be the same as the present ident. To allow enough light onto the model, a light was fixed onto the camera to shine onto the clock and other idents; this light was not used on the main ident however. The clock was mechanical, and featured numerals indicated by double lines that increased in thickness the further round the clockface. The clock also featured a 'polo' mint centre. The clock is quite distinctive, and became strongly associated with the BBC. The clocks colour and legend never differed from that of the main ident.

The clock was changed in December 1981, with the introduction of a computerized clock except Wales that retained the mechanical clock and remained in use until 1985 where it was abandoned making the last BBC1 mechanical clock to do so and a rebranding happened the same year. It was the longest running clock of 1974 and 1985 in Wales and was the last region to adopt the computerized clock and preserved the polo dot. Following BBC2's rebrand to the electronic striped 2 ident, technicians started working on an electronic clock to accompany the new look, and following its completion it was this that replaced mechanical version. The new clock featured a single uniform line thickness all the way round, except at 12, 3, 6 and 9 where the lines were doubled. The polo mint centre was also removed in favour of a central dot.

The looks were also accompanied by static programme captions. The captions for the 1969 to 1974 look used the legend of the ident in their captions located at the bottom of the screen. They continued for a while after the new BBC1 logo was introduced. However, the style was changed in 1976 to feature a banner at the top of the image featuring double striped lines and the double striped BBC1 logo. This design was used until February 1985.

Christmas Idents
1974: A spinning globe appears behind the holographic snowflakes in the background with he bottom saying Christmas on BBC1.

1975: The 1974's version is reused but with different.

1976: The globe is now a snowflake and the holographic snowflakes in the background is now red. This is the first year that has a Christmas clock.

1977: The globe is covered with cream with a spring of holly atop.

1978: A double-faced Santa Claus head appears.

1979: This ident features a group of Victorian carol singers encourage us to join them in celebrating Yuletide.

1980: This ident features four Victorian skaters whizzing around a snowman. This is the first ident that use the day and night variation.

1981: BBC1 look saw the BBC1 globe becoming a series of baubles showing the world with different coloured seas

1982: This ident shows the snowflake.

1983: BBC1 modified last year's snowflake. There were just six holographic branches which gave a great effect.

1984: The ident shows three jolly snowmen armed with Christmas crackers. The backcloth colour changed for daytime, evening or night-time. On its last transmission, however, a full moon was shown in the background.

Replacement
The mirrored globe was retired at 7pm on 18 February 1985, with the first showing of the globe's replacement: the Computer Originated World or COW for short. The globe was retired because of the fact it was the only live mechanical model used on television and the maintenance required was making it difficult to use; even the 1981 rebrand caused a number of difficulties such as bad positioning, odd colours and other errors. The globe was also becoming old fashioned, due to its long service since the invention of colour.

The NODD system was abandoned with the globe, as all idents and clocks were now electronically generated, and as a result the equipment was not needed. Cameras were still used for programme slides until the late 1980s, when the programme slides became electronically generated also.

Trivia

 * Contrary to the belief of many, NODD was not called so because the camera could nod in any direction at the push of a button.
 * The mechanical clock that accompanied the look gained so much status that the design was included in the header of the BBC website when it was redesigned in 2007, incorporated into a clock module in the next redesign in 2009 and is again located at the top of the page in the current redesign. It is also the basis of the current styling used throughout the BBC website.
 * The 1972 Mechanical Globe ident was recreated to introduce the second series of Life on Mars.
 * The 1981 version of the ident was recreated to end both Northern Ireland's digital switchover and the analogue television era in the UK.