13 Feb
2008
13 Feb
'08
9:50 p.m.
From: mouse at rodents.montreal.qc.ca
Triodes were made before 1900. If it is just materials but not
known, one might use zinc oxide negative resistance devices.
Relays are simple enough and well known by then. Output isn't
a big issue. Memory is always a problem but input could easily
be done with punch cards ( also well known then ).
Relays can be use for memory but they are expensive. I've always
thought that a bunch of reed relays with small magnets to bias them.
Too bad they didn't have reed relays then.
Dwight
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Not completely on topic, but my boss wishes to
build a computer using
modern knowledge, but only materials, IO etc that existed as at 1st
Jan 1900. The basic premise is that had a need existed, and they
knew how to make one, could have it been done.
[W]e have fairly quickly identified that magnetic
logic is the only
likely candidate.
Why?
What is preventing the use of vacuum tubes, or even transistors? 1900
had the facilities to build vacuum tubes sufficient for logic, had
anyone known to try - and in fact someone did, just a few years later.
I suspect 1900 probably had the facilities to build basic transistors
(point-contact transistors aren't all that tough). It certainly had
the ability to bootstrap shops that could make transistors; how much
tools-to-build-the-tools is acceptable?