Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Pre-20th Century Gadgetery

Posted by Zonk on from the yay-science dept.

The Byelorussian Hatter writes "Wired, presumably bored to death of Cellphones, Zunes, MairBook Nacs and what-have-you, looks back at the elegant inventions of a less civilized age. 'The Turk was a chess player concealed in a table packed with cogs and gears, contrived to give the appearance of a mighty chess-playing machine. Atop the table, an articulated automaton would be seen to make the moves determined by the master within. One of the 18th and 19th century's many illustrious hoaxes, the Turk is perhaps the greatest gadget that wasn't.'"

2 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. "Ark of the Covenant"? by random_amber · · Score: 3, Funny

    What the heck is this in a list of the greatest gadgets for? Push a button and out comes God (to melt faces)?

  2. Didn't make the list... by Antarius · · Score: 4, Funny


    It didn't make the list, but was vapourware at the time:

    Duke Nukem Forever