Who needs c when this can be done with "machine" language?

[jpanhalt]

Sent by a friend: https://www.chonday.com/Videos/the-writer-automaton

Note: It was done 240 years ago. Have your speakers on.

John

 

[Inquisitive]

We used to get fine watches repaired. Now we throw them out.

That was an art.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[3v0]

No to detract from the accomplishment but: It is not machine language. It is not a digital computer.

 

[ericgibbs]

Its only a clockwork mechanism, not programmable.

For its time its a superb piece of engineering.
E

 

[tvtech]

Sent by a friend: https://www.chonday.com/Videos/the-writer-automaton

Note: It was done 240 years ago. Have your speakers on.

John

Astonishing John
Amazing Video. Thanks for sharing.

Regards,
tvtech

 

[jpanhalt]

Its only a clockwork mechanism, not programmable.

For its time its a superb piece of engineering.
E

It is programmable, and many historians consider it an early, mechanical computer. Babbage is, of course, considered by many to be the father of the digital computer. His computer was also mechanical. He came after Pierre Jaquet-Droz and referenced Jaquet-Droz in his writings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaquet-Droz_automata

The writer is the most complex of the three automata. Using a system similar to the one used for the draughtsman for each letter, he is able to write any custom text up to 40 letters long (the text is rarely changed; one of the latest instances was in honour of president François Mitterrand when he toured the city). The text is coded on a wheel where characters are selected one by one.

https://www.delectra.com/jporter/jspMDA.html

His brother, quite a bit more complex, can write any 40 character sequence of the Roman alphabet. As far as functionality is concerned this little fellow is the worlds oldest computer. He has an input device, which is used to set tabs on what could be considered short term programmable memory, a stack of 40 cams (some upper case letters are not present) represents the read only program. A quill pen is the output device. All of which predates Charles Babage by about 50 years. Babage himself was familiar with dolls of this type and writes about them in his autobiography. he may have actually seen these dolls while visiting Switzerland.

https://www.laas.fr/files/LAAS/40ans_LAAS-CNRS_D2-Khatib.pdf
"The Writer" is referenced in that symposium as a "mechanical computer," possibly because it can be programmed.

John

 

[Val Gretchev]

Speaking of robots, have you seen this one?
**broken link removed**

 

[tvtech]

Nice Vids Val

Technology is great....but the older Guys that worked with nothing but common sense and buggerall else doe's it for me

Much like you did....

Regards,
tvtech

 

[ericgibbs]

It is programmable, and many historians consider it an early, mechanical computer. Babbage is, of course, considered by many to be the father of the digital computer. His computer was also mechanical. He came after Pierre Jaquet-Droz and referenced Jaquet-Droz in his writings.

Morning John,
Perhaps this may sound picky, but I would consider a programmable device to have some degree of calculation ability and be adaptive.

Using your premise would mean a bedside mechanical alarm clock would be considered 'programmable'.?

The device shown in your video is an excellent piece of design and in its day would have been considered cutting edge.
Eric