On Sat, Jul 20, 2024, 9:08 PM Steve Lewis via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> A fair clarification, I realize that I was sort of mixing two different > topics (and didn't mean to imply it had anything to do with analog > computing). > > What I meant was that in the title of the book they use "digital computer" > and I wonder if there was ever a book describing a mechanical "analog > computer" - and what they might even look like. > > -Steve > Not retro but when the Goodwill Computer Museum (in Austin) had a knowledgeable team running it they spun off into the Museum of Computer Culture and had created a relay computer the RC3. (They did this while at goodwill but right before the museum got shutdown as it wasn't making the goodwill owners enough money). Unfortunately now the MCC site is also down but a nice reference with a running video (it was loud) but impressive can be found here https://austin.makerfaire.com/maker/entry/709/ There's another relay computer here (I'm not as familiar with) but read that it was a good amount of information around it, maybe it references an early book somewhere. http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~harry/Relay/index.html Confusing myself as I thought about it, what category is a relay computer? It's electric and I would say mechanical but then not sure if mechanical can be electric. Is it still analog? - John >
