Collections of (physically) small computers

Rumor has it that Jim Leonard may have mentioned these words: Four functions: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. I've said it here a coupla times and I'll say 'er again: When I was in high school, the "accepted" definition of a computer was: "A device that performs both arithmetic and logic functions without the aid of a human." Which, in my eyes, seems a pretty decent and logical benchmark. A "four-banger" is not a computer; it can perform arithmetic but it cannot perform any logic on said arithmetic. Even the non-programmable scientific calcs; if there's no logic, it's not a computer. It needs the aid of a human for the logic aspect. Even simple macro-based calcs I wouldn't consider computers if they don't have some form of if/then/else or looping structures (i.e. implying the logic part of the equation). I've had "programmable calculators" that had more memory and nearly as powerful programming language(s) than my first computer - To me, they'd fit the definition of a computer... Anyway, that's my take, and it seems pretty levelheaded to me. When someone comes up with something that makes more logic, I'll either change my mind, or I won't. ;-) Laterz, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger | "Bugs of a feather flock together." sysadmin, Iceberg Computers | Russell Nelson zmerch at 30below.com |