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 Thread (4 posts)
Zorvan  5/12/08 12:37:39 PM
#1

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"You know what happened to the man that got everything he ever wanted? He had nothing to hope for."

www.pcworld.com/video/id,792-page,1-bid,0/video.html

"Charles Babbage was one of the first computing pioneers and his machine, the Difference Engine Number Two, is on display at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. Babbage drew up plans for this apparatus in the mid-1800s but he ran out of money and never got the chance to see the machine completed."

So Microsoft commissioned the machine to be built, using tools, tolerances, and materials available in Babbages' time to construct the machine. And it works, able to calculate solutions to mathematical problems up to 30 decimal points.

Had Babbage actually been able to complete the machine himself, mechanical computing would have started over 100 years earlier than it did. You can watch the video to see the machine in action.

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Sawtooth  5/12/08 4:40:11 PM
#2

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That is too freaking cool. I love projects like this.

If we can just get a steam-powered golem operating I'll be taking a paddlewheel to Steampunk heaven.
 
Zorvan  5/12/08 9:06:10 PM
#3

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"You know what happened to the man that got everything he ever wanted? He had nothing to hope for."
Originally posted by Sawtooth

That is too freaking cool. I love projects like this.

If we can just get a steam-powered golem operating I'll be taking a paddlewheel to Steampunk heaven.

You ever read any of those alternate-earth science fiction stories? I mean, if Babbage had built this thing, and brought computing to the forefront a hundred + years before it appeared in our time, the face of the world  would be changed greatly compared to now.  Hell, we might have had those steam-powered golems.

"Zorvan" sig by Impyriel
mike470  5/12/08 9:11:11 PM
#4

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Guide

Joined: 2/11/08
Posts: 1751

Currently on vacation---be back in a week..I know you will all miss me ;)

Originally posted by Zorvan
Originally posted by Sawtooth

That is too freaking cool. I love projects like this.

If we can just get a steam-powered golem operating I'll be taking a paddlewheel to Steampunk heaven.

You ever read any of those alternate-earth science fiction stories? I mean, if Babbage had built this thing, and brought computing to the forefront a hundred + years before it appeared in our time, the face of the world  would be changed greatly compared to now.  Hell, we might have had those steam-powered golems.

Screw steam powered golems!

I want my own hover car

"Jealously leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate, Hate leads to posting on mmorpg.com

I blame WoW. " -SoulSurfer