Let's build Babbage's ultimate mechanical computer

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827915.500-lets-build-babbages-ultimate-mechanical-computer.html

by auxbuss • 16 years ago

22 11 16 years ago

jonovos• 16 years ago

I want to know - WHAT di Babbage's analytical engine SOUND LIKE? Wouldn't this make an awesome sound effect for modern computers?

Sandman• 16 years ago

It would be interesting to build this, then run Ada Lovelace's program on it. Imagine that - running software that was written in Victorian times on a computer that should have been built in Victorian times.

iwwr• 16 years ago

Can we say that Babbage's projects failed because he was unable to create a team to help him complete it? He was also not very driven toward one particular design, stopping half-way and starting a yet more complex project.

DanI-S• 16 years ago

He would've fit in well around here ;)

elblanco• 16 years ago

Which brings up an interesting point, would engineering methods other than the waterfall method have even worked for this? It certainly sounds like Babbage struggled with this.

daniel_reetz• 16 years ago

Yeah, we can. That is why I am so excited about the Logical Engine that Rob B is building at http://halfbakedmaker.org/ -- he makes concrete progress on his rod-based mechaputer practically every weekend.

Check it out, it's a well-thought-out, well-documented, interesting take on mechanical computing.

RobertB• 16 years ago

Well, Babbage never wanted to build the Analytical Engine, he said so explicitly. He just wanted to design it, and let someone else build it. The reason was his experience with the Difference Engine. Because the D.E. would be useful for accurate, error-free charts for the British Navy, he felt that the Government should pay for it. And he did get an agreement with the Gov, but getting the money out of them was like getting water out of a stone. He was so disgusted by the whole process, that he resolved neither to finish the D.E. nor to even start the A.E. Other than that, I think there is no question that the Analytical Engine could have been built in the 19th century.

eftpotrm2• 16 years ago

Not that I wish the author anything but the best, but he's not alone in this.

Tim Robinson, of Meccano/Erector Difference Engine fame, has been working on building the Analytical Engine in Meccano for some time. His website (http://meccano.us/analytical_engine/index.html) shows a working control barrel from three years ago; I believe from memory (I'm on a mailing list with him) that the design and construction has progressed since then, though I don't have the details to hand.

I wish them both luck, I'd love to see both designs up and working at the first possible opportunity. Tim's Difference Engine was a thing of beauty to watch (there certainly were videos online) and had a fantastic sound in operation.

jgrahamc• 16 years ago

I have talked to Tim about this so he is aware. And recently Doron Swade (who built the Difference Engine No. 2) has joined the project: http://plan28.org/ for details.

eftpotrm2• 16 years ago

Cool, glad to hear it :-) Best wishes to you all. Been very impressed with what I've seen of Tim's work, hope you can all learn from each other.

Avshalom• 16 years ago

If I had the money I would absolutely commission some watchmakers to make an analytical engine with modern, tiny ass clock work.

Let's build Babbage's ultimate mechanical computer

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