Mechanical Computing 149
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."
Strange (Score:4, Insightful)
Beautiful! (Score:4, Insightful)
Computing Will Find a Way (Score:0, Insightful)
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
Re:Puts new meaning (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Next project? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Next project? (Score:4, Insightful)
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.
Re:1835 Called (Score:2, Insightful)
blimey! (Score:2, Insightful)