The World's Largest Computer in 1951

  • Thread starter Thread starter wolram
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Computer
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around historical and technical aspects of significant machines and vehicles, including the ENIAC computer and the Russian Ekranoplan. Participants engage in a quiz-like format, posing questions and providing hints about various inventions, their specifications, and historical context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the ENIAC, detailing its size, weight, components, and power consumption, while noting its limited processing power compared to modern devices.
  • Another participant identifies the ENIAC as the machine described in the previous post.
  • Participants discuss a large vehicle that weighs 540 tons, can travel over land and water, and is hinted to be built in Russia, leading to speculation about its identity.
  • Some participants propose that the vehicle in question is the Russian Ekranoplan, explaining its design and operational principles related to ground effect.
  • There is a discussion about a vehicle that achieved over 188 miles per gallon, with participants speculating on its type and historical significance, including a mention of a Harley Davidson motorcycle from 1908.
  • One participant describes a crude device involving a wooden stand, a funnel, acid, and copper wire, prompting further questions about its purpose.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the identity of some machines, particularly the vehicle that achieved high fuel efficiency, as various guesses and clarifications are made. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of some inventions and their historical context.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the specifications and classifications of the vehicles discussed, particularly regarding the Ekranoplan's operational capabilities and the fuel efficiency claims of the motorcycle.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the history of computing, engineering innovations, and the evolution of vehicle technology may find this discussion engaging.

  • #301
Or, a kinetograph!
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
  • #302
That's what I thought, but there's no U in it.
 
  • #303
The first electric telescope?
 
  • #304
Moonbear said:
Oh, wait, you said it has to have a U in it, then how about a thaumatrope?

No, but that is another good guess. I didn't realize that there are so many related concepts, but this was considered an essential technical concept.
 
  • #305
Did Edison invent it?
 
  • #306
Paul Nipkow's mechanical television thingy
 
  • #308
Moonbear said:
Or, a kinetograph!

Whewwwww, uncle!

I call that one close enough, but what I was looking for was the Nipkow disk

In 1884, university student Paul Nipkow of Germany proposed and patented the world's first electromechanical television system. Nipkow proposed a disc camera, that contained a disc which was perforated. To capture a moving image the disc was rotated before an image and had the effect of dividing the picture into lines. Light sensitive selenium behind the perforated disk would capture the moving image.

The camera became known as the Nipkow disk.
http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/TV_HIST_FORTNER.html

Also. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blnipkov.htm
Also: http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/NIPKOW_DISK.html

It is considered to be the first rasterizer, and was part of the first mechanical television, patented in 1884.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #309
Uh oh, I guess Zooby got it first! :biggrin:
 
  • #310
Ivan Seeking said:
Uh oh, I guess Zooby got it first! :biggrin:
What was the clue about the U all about?
 
  • #311
T U V --> TV :biggrin:

Danger, you picked up this didn't you? I thought you did.
 
  • #312
Ivan Seeking said:
T U V --> TV :biggrin:

Danger, you picked up this didn't you? I thought you did.
I'm drawing a blank.
 
  • #313
Tenants Union of Victoria?
 
  • #314
Ivan Seeking said:
T U V --> TV :biggrin:

Danger, you picked up this didn't you? I thought you did.
:confused: Tel-Uh-Vision? :rolleyes: :smile:
 
  • #315
Moonbear said:
:confused: Tel-Uh-Vision? :rolleyes: :smile:

:smile: :smile: :smile: No, even worse!


...QRSTUVWXYZ
 
  • #316
Oh, that one sure is tricky...
 
  • #317
Ivan Seeking said:
:smile: :smile: :smile: No, even worse!


...QRSTUVWXYZ
Let's everyone of us agree never to mention the badness of this clue to anyone outside this thread.
 
  • #318
Ivan Seeking said:
:smile: :smile: :smile: No, even worse!


...QRSTUVWXYZ

:smile: :smile: :rolleyes: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #319
Ivan Seeking said:
T U V --> TV :biggrin:

Danger, you picked up this didn't you? I thought you did.
Sort of. That's the thing that I was thinking of when I said kinescope. I thought that the name was used for that before it was for picture tubes. :redface:
 
  • #320
You brought up UFOs! You asked for it! :biggrin:
 
  • #321
Danger said:
Sort of. That's the thing that I was thinking of when I said kinescope.


See! :biggrin: :smile:
 
  • #322
zoobyshoe said:
Let's everyone of us agree never to mention the badness of this clue to anyone outside this thread.
No problem! I can't stop laughing long enough to say anything to anyone! I'm such a sucker for bad jokes. :smile:
 
  • #323
Ivan Seeking said:
See! :biggrin: :smile:
"Sort of" is what you say to your 97 year old great grandmother when she asks if her sweater buttons are all lined up.
 
  • #324
Ivan Seeking said:
No, but as a clue, U lands right in the middle.


I make no apologies! :-p
 
  • #325
Ivan Seeking said:
See! :biggrin: :smile:
Oh, you mean did I get the gag about the 'U' in the middle of 'TV'. Yeah. Loved it. :biggrin:

Loved Zoob's blankness even more. :-p
 
  • #326
I seem to remember a reference to an ellemeno. Should have guessed there would be a TUV somewhere nearby.
 
  • #327
zoobyshoe said:
"Sort of" is what you say to your 97 year old great grandmother when she asks if her sweater buttons are all lined up.

I was allowing for your age. :confused:
 
  • #328
Ivan Seeking said:
I make no apologies! :-p
Course not, gramma, that was a helpful, helpful clue! Now, let's just get your buttons buttoned up a little neater here.
 
  • #329
Huckleberry said:
I seem to remember a reference to an ellemeno. Should have guessed there would be a TUV somewhere nearby.


See again, Huckleberry gets it - the big picture! :approve:
 
  • #330
Ivan Seeking said:
See again, Huckleberry gets it - the big picture! :approve:
Course he gets the big picture, Gramma. Certainly he does! We all guessed it right away, we were just teasing Gramma! Why who couldn't guess it with a clue like that?
 

Similar threads

Is Alan Turing given too much credit when it comes to computers?
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
5K
How to compute flexure and failure loads of acrylic sheets
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
15K