1 Mar
2008
1 Mar
'08
8:53 p.m.
Rick Bensene wrote:
I remember that seven-segment format being used in TTL(Time To
Launch)/MET (Mission Elapsed Time) on big signs by NASA in the early to
mid-1960's.
These were BIG digits that could be read from long distances. The
segments were formed by putting together incandescent lights in rows and
columns, and a seven-segment rendition made the digits. Also, many
sports scoreboards did (and still today) use a similar seven-segment
rendition using individual incandescent lamps to form segments.
It's my suspicion that stadium or horsetrack display boards were the
first practical use of 7-seg displays, probably around the 1920s. I've been
intending to go looking for historical photos of large long-established
stadiums such as Yankee or some such, sometime.
Also, Brent mentioned the HP 9100A using a 7-segment
rendition. True,
but the much earlier (1963 versus 1968) Friden 130 used a seven segment
rendition on its CRT display.
Actually, it was Tony who mentioned the HP9100A; I had already mentioned
the Friden 130 earlier in the thread. (And I used Rick's web site to
confirm the year before I stuck my neck out!)
--
(A lot of the points in this thread were mentioned on the list a year or
so ago, in the AGC 7-seg display discussion.)