17 Jun
1998
17 Jun
'98
3:17 a.m.
<SNIP>
I think there was an automated loom that was invented
in the 17th century
that wove a pattern based on a template, but I don't recall if this was a
hole punch reader, a specially shaped gear, or other apparatus. It did
exist though. Although most definitely not a computer as we see them today,
it did take a program for input, process it, and output it in the form of
fabric. (I think this was right before CGA was made a standard...)
I remember seeing a picture of this machine-- it was a link-belt of
cards in a loop, with holes punched through them. They would pass by
this 'reader' thingie which would 'read' the card with a matrix of
metal rods poking through the holes.
Using cards in such a manner would be like kinda using a ROM chip as
a character generator for a CRT display. Hence the wisecrack about
CGA is actually not far from the mark! ;^)
5) First
digital computer
Didn't someone just post a link about the "first digital computer" turning
50 years old? It was on the BBC website, I believe.
6) First microchip based computer (probably based
on the 4004)
7) First computer to sell more than 1,000
8) " " " " " "
10,000
9) First computer to use a floppy disk (any kind of floppy)
As for the rest, maybe somone more knowledgable than I can help you there.
________________________________________
john higginbotham limbo.netpath.net -
webmaster, http://www.pntprinting.com -
"Teamwork is essential; it gives the -
enemy other people to shoot at." -
17 Jun
17 Jun
6:52 a.m.
On Wed, 17 Jun 1998, Jeff Kaneko wrote:
BTW, this was called the Jacquard Loom, named after the inventor,
Joseph-Marie Jacquard. The basic punch card idea led to Herman
Hollerith's census tabulator and was adopted by Charles Babbage in his
designs for his difference engine.
Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2
See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
[Last web page update: 06/11/98]
I think there
was an automated loom that was invented in the 17th century
that wove a pattern based on a template, but I don't recall if this was a
hole punch reader, a specially shaped gear, or other apparatus. It did
exist though. Although most definitely not a computer as we see them today,
it did take a program for input, process it, and output it in the form of
fabric. (I think this was right before CGA was made a standard...)
I remember seeing a picture of this machine-- it was a link-belt of
cards in a loop, with holes punched through them. They would pass by
this 'reader' thingie which would 'read' the card with a matrix of
metal rods poking through the holes. 
9:45 a.m.
At 11:52 AM 6/17/98 -0700, you wrote:
BTW, this was called the Jacquard Loom, named after the inventor,
Joseph-Marie Jacquard. The basic punch card idea led to Herman
Hollerith's census tabulator and was adopted by Charles Babbage in his
designs for his difference engine.
And Hollerith's card were directly copied for use as punch cards for
computers. The standard 80 column card is exactly the same size as those
used by Hollerith, although Hollerith's cards used fewer holes.
Joe
On Wed, 17 Jun 1998, Jeff Kaneko wrote:
> > I think there was an automated loom that was invented in the 17th century
> > that wove a pattern based on a template, but I don't recall if this was a
> > hole punch reader, a specially shaped gear, or other apparatus. It did
> > exist though. Although most definitely not a computer as we see them
today,
it did take a program for input, process it, and
output it in the form of
fabric. (I think this was right before CGA was made a standard...)
I remember seeing a picture of this machine-- it was a link-belt of
cards in a loop, with holes punched through them. They would pass by
this 'reader' thingie which would 'read' the card with a matrix of
metal rods poking through the holes. 
4:27 p.m.
Joe wrote:
At 11:52 AM 6/17/98 -0700, you wrote:
BTW, this was called the Jacquard Loom, named after the inventor,
Joseph-Marie Jacquard. The basic punch card idea led to Herman
Hollerith's census tabulator and was adopted by Charles Babbage in his
designs for his difference engine.
And Hollerith's card were directly copied for use as punch cards for
computers. The standard 80 column card is exactly the same size as those
used by Hollerith, although Hollerith's cards used fewer holes.
And after a couple of mergers, the Hollerith Tabulating Machine Company
_is_ IBM.
--
Ward Griffiths
They say that politics makes strange bedfellows.
Of course, the main reason they cuddle up is to screw somebody else.
Michael Flynn, _Rogue Star_
On Wed, 17 Jun 1998, Jeff Kaneko wrote:
> > I think there was an automated loom that was invented in the 17th century
> > that wove a pattern based on a template, but I don't recall if this was a
> > hole punch reader, a specially shaped gear, or other apparatus. It did
> > exist though. Although most definitely not a computer as we see them
today,
it did take a program for input, process it, and
output it in the form of
fabric. (I think this was right before CGA was made a standard...)
I remember seeing a picture of this machine-- it was a link-belt of
cards in a loop, with holes punched through them. They would pass by
this 'reader' thingie which would 'read' the card with a matrix of
metal rods poking through the holes. 
7:24 a.m.
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ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
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