> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gene Buckle" <geneb_at_deltasoft.com>
> To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 11:32 AM
> Subject: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book
>
>
> > Here's a prime example of an analog computer that's in current use:
> >
> > http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/BehindTheScenes/lockheed.html
> >
>
> If the captions on the pictures (very nice, by the way) are correct, this
> simulator isn't an analog computer at all by the definition I'm familiar
> with. It uses tubes and relays, which are discrete digital components
> (they're either on or off, with no states in between). An analog computer
> as I understand it is something like a differential analyser, which uses
> rollers and turntables which have (virtually) infinite states, depending on
> how finely you can measure. Another example of an analog device would be a
> slide rule.
>
The last time I looked tubes were analogue devices. One of their
main uses is as amplifiers, which is definitely an analogue function.
If I remember correctly, one of the main problems with early tube
computers (1940s and 1950s), was actually getting the tubes to behave
like digital devices.
--
Dr. Mark Green mark_at_cs.ualberta.ca
McCalla Professor (780) 492-4584
Department of Computing Science (780) 492-1071 (FAX)
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada
Received on Tue Nov 07 2000 - 15:20:07 GMT