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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."

8 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Strange by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Strange. I thought Mechanical Computing was in the past

  2. Beautiful! by tyroneking · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No really - this is art...

  3. Computing Will Find a Way by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    FUCK PATENTS! FUCK DRM! Take my computer, and I'll build another from MECCANO!!! Take my Meccano, and I'll build a computer from root vegetables! Bwahahaha!

    More seriously, this illustrates just _why_ the I"P" neofascists are on a losing streak in the long run (but so was the xtian church, and the dark ages still lasted most of a millenium - so that doesn't fill me with glee. It mightn't be until the year 3000 that we leave the new I"P" dark age :-( )

  4. Re:Puts new meaning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Er, that phrase comes from mechanical hand-cranked calculators.

  5. Re:Next project? by temojen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think perhaps a (finite) turing machine would be much easier. It would be simpler due to not needing random access memory.

  6. Re:Next project? by mark-t · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Approximately one year ago, there was a lot of discussion on the pneumatics newsgroup for lugnet, and some interesting ideas on how to make assorted digital computing elements using LEGO were worked out. AND, OR, XOR, Adders, and even a mechanism for binary-based memory storage were designed.

    The costs of purchasing enough LEGO elements to actually make a simple and an even remotely usable computer, however, was well into the thousands of dollars.... kind of hard to justify for something that ultimately, is... well... rather useless.

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  7. Re:1835 Called by AceJohnny · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually no, they didn't really care, then.

    --
    Misleading titles? Inflammatory blurbs? Keep in mind that Slashdot is a tabloid.
  8. blimey! by snellgrove2 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    um... yah, he's cleverer than me i'd say :)