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Mechanical Computing

Posted by timothy on from the meccano-punk dept.

FTL writes "Tim Robinson has built a computer capable of solving polynomial equations -- using Meccano. His difference engine (mirror) uses a similar approach to Babbage's design. He's also created a differential analyzer (mirror) complete with a GUI. Both could be scaled up indefinitely to handle larger problems. 'Computing by steam' is possible."

9 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Computing by steam? by ranger714 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Sounds like what happened to a friend of mine recently who devised his own "Homebrew" watercooling rig for his Athlon64...

    The steaming vents on the case gave mute testimony to the utter destruction the water made as it transisioned rapidly from liquid form to gaseous form. Poor devil...

    Of course, I could also see something like that from the original "Wild, Wild West" tv show (and not the horrific movie of the same name), or maybe "Brisco County, Jr.".

    --

    "Snoochie-Boochies? Who talks like that? That is babytalk!"-Jay, Chasing Amy

  2. 1835 Called by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    1835 called; they want their revolutionary technological ideas back.

    1. Re:1835 Called by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      By "called", of course, I meant "sent a primitive telegram".

  3. Sweet by Revolution+9 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I always wanted a PC I could shovel coal into.

  4. Puts new meaning by abionnnn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Into the old saying that physicists love to say: "crank the handle on the mathematics".

  5. May I be the first to say... by the_twisted_pair · · Score: 5, Funny
    640 nuts and bolts should be enough for anybody

    Serious kudos due here - it's a labour of love.

  6. Obligatory, it seems . . by TinheadNed · · Score: 1, Funny

    Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these . . .

    Seriously, I am totally amazed at that guy's genius. Full on Wayne's World "Not Worthy!" moment.

  7. How long before . . . . . by theparanoidcynic · · Score: 2, Funny

    . . . . Linux gets ported to steampunk arcitecture?

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    Only in a Slashdot fantasy can a Slackware install turn into several hours of sex . . . . .
  8. how long before someone writes a virus for it? by pedantic+bore · · Score: 2, Funny

    In order to succeed in the market today, it has to run viruses. Is someone working on version of rugrat for this beast?

    --
    Am I part of the core demographic for Swedish Fish?