Mechanical Energy Based Civilization?

[jedishrfu]

or a marble computer:

 

[jedishrfu]

or a water computer:

 

[jedishrfu]

replacing the battery motorized part with some other type mechanical driver and the sensor with some mechaniical sensor.

I guess the video doesn't because it doesn't fit the universe of our mechanical world. :-)

 

[Baluncore]

or analog means like slide rules, Curtas, Addiators, abacuii, ...

I see a distinction between; (1) analog calculation using nomograms or linkages; (2) digital numerical calculation; and (3) the programmed management of big alphanumeric datasets.

 

[jedishrfu]

or edge notched cards:

 

[jtbell]

I had one of these wheh I was a kid:

Digi-Comp I

 

[BillTre]

I had one of these wheh I was a kid:

View attachment 357943

Digi-Comp I

Me too.

 

[robphy]

I had one of these
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_694509

 

[pbuk]

Just for fun, suppose electrical energy had never been developed but technology had continued to advance after Classical Physics was well understood. What do you suppose the technology would look like by now in a fictional alternative timeline?

This is the premise of the Steampunk genre: are you looking for a summary of every idea of every author, or just the good ones?

 

[bob012345]

This is the premise of the Steampunk genre: are you looking for a summary of every idea of every author, or just the good ones?

I’m not looking for Sci-fi ideas from the Steampunk genre. I’m looking for original thought among PF members regarding what such an advanced civilization might look like now.

 

[gmax137]

Some HVAC still uses pneumatic controls. They can be quite sophisticated.

Not just HVAC. Large portions of power generating plants designed in the 1960s and 70s used pneumatic controls. 1 to 5 volts, 4 to 20 mA, 3 to 15 psi, it's all the same.

 

[Klystron]

I’m not looking for Sci-fi ideas from the Steampunk genre. I’m looking for original thought among PF members regarding what such an advanced civilization might look like now.

Asking STEM members to pretend electromagnetic (EM) theory and 'electricity' never existed, constitutes what engineers might call a self-defeating criteria.

Much of modern physics derives from studying EM, particularly light. Ignoring such undermines the basis of PF's role as teachers. Would relativity exist without Maxwell's equations as basis?

After the fact, we could speculate on IDK, matter and gravitational waves as post facto basis for quantum mechanics but not in 1925. Certainly electronics provides sensitive measurements beyond strictly mechanical means; e.g. interferometers versus beam balances.

Thus I mentioned old-timey SF sources such as "The Waveries" to provide some basis for the speculation, not to mention more modern steampunk civilizations. IOW we know about EM but cannot or do not use it for some SF-logical reason.

Otherwise, speculating on a purely mechanical technological civilization contains merit. Look to tech history for many examples of non-electrical devices.

While brushing my teeth with an electronic toothbrush, I mentally designed a purely hydraulic toothbrush powered by water pressure at the tap, not to mention a 'water pick', as improvements to a basic toothbrush. Likewise, engineers in rural Africa and Asia designed clothes and dishwashers powered by water pressure sans electronic controls due to lack of a consistent electric grid. Members have already provided a plethora of mechanical technology.

 

[Algr]

Without electricity, mechanical devices would have advanced considerably beyond what was ever made in the real world. But they would be in no way comparable to the devices we actually have now. There is probably some limit to data capacity relative to how strong a material is before reading the output wore down its shape. And of course the costs of these devices would be dramatically higher.
No TV or radio. Record players and films could be synced, but not loud enough for large audiences. And pneumatic tubes are no substitute for the internet.

 

[Hornbein]

It seems to me that no electronics, mechanical only is the idea behind the steampunk trend. There are steampunk conventions going on in this world. It's mostly about clothing style though, not building actual machines.

 

[Klystron]

Without going to far off topic of this thread, electricity (cyberpunk) and mechanical (steampunk) are not converses nor sole alternatives. Consider genetically engineered biological organisms (biopunk?). Much allegorical modern SF features talking pets, living houses grown from seeds, rocket and other-pods grown from essentially biological sources.

Allegorical because speculation stems from authors' experience, surroundings and history. Cyberpunk merges electronic computer technology with biological organisms (cyborgs). Steampunk reimagines 'Victorian' society technology such as steam railroads and tickertapes with modern sexuality and mores.

 

[256bits]

Without going to far off topic of this thread, electricity (cyberpunk) and mechanical (steampunk) are not converses nor sole alternatives. Consider genetically engineered biological organisms (biopunk?). Much allegorical modern SF features talking pets, living houses grown from seeds, rocket and other-pods grown from essentially biological sources.

Allegorical because speculation stems from authors' experience, surroundings and history. Cyberpunk merges electronic computer technology with biological organisms (cyborgs). Steampunk reimagines 'Victorian' society technology such as steam railroads and tickertapes with modern sexuality and mores.

There should be a Flintstone punk from the comic dinosaur tech.

 

[robphy]

Mechanical circuits: electronics without electricity - Steve Mould


https://upperstory.com/en/spintronics/
https://upperstory.com/en/spintronics/simulator/