11 Nov
2000
11 Nov
'00
12:53 a.m.
On Fri, 10 Nov 2000, Chuck McManis wrote:
For VCF next year I'm home brewing a digital
computer. The goal is to
produce something akin to a CARDIAC that could be used by interested students.
This is what I have so far, comments/criticisms/suggestions are welcome:
Description:
============
The computer consists of three rotary switches that can be set to
the values 0 throuh 9. I would like them to look like the digital
selectors on the front of the IBM 360 series machines.
Architecture
============
The SIMPLEX is a decimal architecture computer (base-10 being easier
to understand than base-2) The store consists of 100 memory locations
each of which can hold 3 digits.
Chuck, this looks like a proto IBM 1401. Rather than inventing a new
instruction set, why not teach them a historical instruction set and have
them learn about basic computer operations by using the 1401 ISP?
Also, the 1401 had similar rotary switches for setting values.
-Mike http://1401.org