The Analog Computer Inside Prime Minister

http://www.insidegmt.com/2021/01/the-analog-computer-inside-prime-minister/

by homarp • 6 years ago

23 11 6 years ago

frostburg2• 6 years ago

It's probably relevant to point out that it's digital, not analog, despite not being electronic.

However, I would say that boardgame mechanic that used for example a comparison between the height of piles of cards could be argued to be analog.

studius3• 5 years ago

Analog data is data that is represented in a physical way. Is the game not physical?

cameron_b• 5 years ago

Analog is more characteristically described as the values between 0 and 1.

Whether the infinite values of voltage between 0.0V and 5V ( infinite as measured by a digital system requiring significant figures represented in floating point math.

Anecdotally, Film photography is not accurately called "analog" as it is not electrical, and does indeed break down to fine grained 1 and 0-like activation of silver halide crystals.

racingmars• 5 years ago

"Analog" meaning the ability to represent data across an uninterrupted, infinitely-fine continuum, versus "digital" meaning only able to represent data as discrete steps. Continuous versus discrete.

The comment that the "computer" in the game is correctly referred to as digital is because from the picture, there are discrete steps for the points on each policy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. on each area of the economy).

An "analog computer" could be implemented with electronic components, and a "digital computer" could be implemented purely mechanically.

teddyh2• 5 years ago

Clickbait rescue: […] inside the board game named “Prime Minister”.

studius3• 5 years ago

I for one was glad to see it was about a board game instead of a short sci-fi story or an interview with the Prime Minister about their old pacemaker. Not that those wouldn't have been interesting, but I wasn't expecting a board game. What a surprise!

whatshisface• 5 years ago

"Shocking Expose: Investigative Journalists Reveal Elaborate System of Passive Components and Pneumatics Calculating Jim Hacker's Next Move."

teddyh2• 5 years ago

“The explosion was visible from Alpha Centauri.”

kqr2• 5 years ago

Board game link: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-906-prime-minister.aspx

The Analog Computer Inside Prime Minister

Related Stories