Analog computers (was Re: COMDYNA GP-6)

From: Frank Palazzolo <palazzol_at_comcast.net>
Date: Wed Nov 6 15:17:00 2002

Ethan Dicks wrote:
>My one and only experierience with analog computing was a
dedicated
>device (no patch panel) that calculated energy reserves for the
>planet. It had an LED counter for the year and numerous dials
for
>amount of driving, heating, electricity usage, etc. Physically,
>it was about 3" thick and several feet square. I remember
trying
>out a variety of simulations on it when it was at the local
science
>museum, COSI, some summer between 1976 and 1980.

I remember this as one of those fuzzy childhood memories. In
fact, I was never sure that it actually existed until reading
this message. I know I only had a few minutes to play with it,
sometime in the 70's. I remember asking "what do you do when the
energy runs out?" :) I thought it might have been developed in
the aftermath of the "energy crisis" in 1973.

I can picture the wooden frame, and you could see some of the
circuitry through the front I think...

I hope someone finds a picture of that thingy.

-Frank
Received on Wed Nov 06 2002 - 15:17:00 GMT