possibly OT: Enigma Cypher machine on e-bay. - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

10 Mar 2003

...
 From: "Hans Franke"
&lt;Hans.Franke(a)mch20.sbs.de&gt;

> > Hmm...  Doesn't think this is a computer, eh?  Wonder what it *is* then?  
It
...
   >
calculates, and provides a results of those calculations into some kind of
 > output -- usually on paper. 
  Calling an Enigma a computer is really stretching
the definition. They 
 are incredibly simple machines - the internal circuitry consists of not 
 much more than a battery, wires, the wheels (fancy rotary switches, 
 basically), a plugboard, and a bunch of lightbulbs. 
Well, as far as it goes, a computer needs to be able to:

a) have a stored (changeable) programm
b) execute instructions conditionaly
c) do a loop
sometimes also cited:
d) a way for input/output

of these basics, the Enigma is only good for the first one,
since the wheels can be seen as the programm, and they where
changeable. None of the other two conditions are met, since
there is no loop and no conditional operations ... well, ok,
one may see the repetive execution of the ecryption programm
as a loop, but then the conditional execution is still missing. 
Hi Hans
 I think this one does have the ability to do a loop.
The rotating wheels constitutes a three level loop.
In fact, it is hard wired to loop.
 Lets see:

 a. Changing wheels and order changes stored program
 b. Hitting different keys causes conditional change of output
 c. Wheels generate nested loops
 d. Keyboard and display form I/O

It looks like it meets your list.
Dwight