6 Nov
2002
6 Nov
'02
10:17 a.m.
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