The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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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.

  • #841
brewnog said:
Nope. The invention has nothing to do with chickens.
The automatic colonel plucker?
 
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  • #842
We need a snorting smiley.

and the invention was obviously chicken wire :rolleyes:
 
  • #843
yomamma said:
the invention was obviously chicken wire :rolleyes:
I didn't know that chickens need to be plugged in.
 
  • #844
They do when they have their incubators on
 
  • #845
Danger, you get the next one
 
  • #846
No no no.

Guess mine first, you lazy bizitches.
 
  • #847
who was the person that invented...oh, brrewnog's here.
 
  • #848
yomamma said:
who was the person that invented...oh, brrewnog's here.

Ha, no such luck. :smile:

Since neither of you have the capacity to understand my subtle, clever clues, I'll give you the boring one instead. The invention was a new type of transport. It has nothing to do with chickens, turkeys, plucking machines, Colonels, kernels, Sergeant Majors, Wing Commanders or Flight Lieutenants.
 
  • #849
yomamma said:
the chicken or egg qustion.

I give up! And I'm not even guessing!
 
  • #850
brewnog said:
Since neither of you have the capacity to understand my subtle, clever clues, I'll give you the boring one instead.
Didn't help any, but it was amusing. I can't think of any kind of transport that was invented around that time with the possible exception of the hyrdofoil or hovercraft, and I think they're both a lot older than that.
 
  • #851
Give me an hour first, then give us the boring one.
 
  • #852
Danger said:
Didn't help any, but it was amusing. I can't think of any kind of transport that was invented around that time with the possible exception of the hyrdofoil or hovercraft, and I think they're both a lot older than that.

...The hovercraft was invented by Christopher Cockerell in 1956... Christopher Sydney Cockerell was born in 1910. He worked for the Radio Research Company until 1935 and then for the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company from 1935 until 1951. During the war years, Christopher Cockerell worked with an elite team at Marconi to develop radar, a development which Churchill believed had a significant effect on the outcome of the Second World War, and Cockerell believed to be one of his greatest achievements. While at Marconi, Christopher Cockerell patented 36 of his ideas. Christopher Cockerell was knighted for his achievement in 1969...
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blhovercraft.htm
 
  • #853
Ivan Seeking said:
Quote:
...The hovercraft was invented by Christopher Cockerell in 1956...
Amazing! Even when I'm wrong, I'm right. :approve:

Or more likely, even when I'm right, I'm wrong. :frown:
 
  • #854
I bet you wish you could make smiles smaller huh?
 
  • #855
yomamma said:
I bet you wish you could make smiles smaller huh?
That's been irritating the hell out of me for quite some time now, yes.
 
  • #856
So is Danger up?
 
  • #857
You'll just have to do what BT does and draw them yourself. that's a pretty low-level, BT
 
  • #858
Ivan Seeking said:
So is Danger up?
I didn't get it, you did.

yomamma said:
You'll just have to do what BT does and draw them yourself.
I drew some up in Illustrator and put them in ImageShack, but when I tried them in preview mode they looked like blobs.
 
  • #859
The Racetrack upon which these move tells a tale, thus the mystery.
 
  • #860
Ivan Seeking said:
The Racetrack upon which these move tells a tale, thus the mystery.
Comets?...
 
  • #861
Not comets.
 
  • #862
Binary stars?
 
  • #863
Hadrons? (10)
 
  • #864
No, and I'm not quite sure what inspires that thought...

I would suggest the 23rd Psalm
 
  • #865
My last post was in response to Zooby, but no, not Hadrons
 
  • #866
Ivan Seeking said:
No, and I'm not quite sure what inspires that thought...
If that's in reference to my guess, I was thinking of a cyclotron.

Ivan Seeking said:
I would suggest the 23rd Psalm
Not me, dude! :eek: I won't look something up in the encyclopedia for this; I'm sure as hell not going into the Bible (as if I even have one :rolleyes: ).
 
  • #867
'Read' heads?
 
  • #868
Danger said:
If that's in reference to my guess, I was thinking of a cyclotron.


Not me, dude! :eek: I won't look something up in the encyclopedia for this; I'm sure as hell not going into the Bible (as if I even have one :rolleyes: ).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
 
  • #869
Ivan Seeking said:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
For I am the meanest son-of-a-***** in the valley.
I have that poster. In fact, I'm going to have it painted on the trunk of the Roadrunner whenever I get it restored. :biggrin:
 
  • #870
Ivan Seeking said:
The Racetrack upon which these move tells a tale, thus the mystery.
Ivan Seeking said:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
I'm drawing a blank.
 

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