> I have a couple, to use in an art project (for data storage, not some
> stupid collage), because they are beautiful -- 100% transparent plastic,
> and instead of reels, an endless loop serpentine-tangle-stacked into the
That reminds me of something similar I've seen done on a much larger
scale.
The Conductron-Missouri 727 flight simulator I used to work on used a
Varian 610 for the visual system (Vital I is what I think the image
generator system was named) on the sim. It could display 1024 pixels at
once. Scene data consisted of the runway and taxiway outlines plus
relevant radio navigation data. It was all stored on a paper tape
"cartridge" that was hand made. It was roughly four feet tall and about
30 inches wide. The cartridge sides were plywood on the back and clear
plexiglass on the front. The paper tape was tangle-stacked like you
described above. It was pretty neat to watch. There was a notch at the
top that would accomodate the tape reader head and it was otherwise fully
enclosed.
I can't check right now, but I may have a picture of it at
http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/BehindTheScenes
The 727 (complete and working) went for $1000 at a bankruptcy auction last
summer. :(
g.
Received on Wed Aug 04 2004 - 16:12:16 BST