The World's Largest Computer in 1951

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the ENIAC, the world's first general-purpose electronic computer, which stood 10 feet tall, occupied 1,000 square feet, and weighed approximately 30 tons. It utilized over 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches, and 18,000 vacuum tubes, consuming 150 kilowatts of power. Additionally, the conversation shifts to the Russian Ekranoplan, a Ground Effect Vehicle developed by Rostislav Alekseev, which could travel over 400 km/h and weighed 540 tons fully loaded. The Ekranoplan was designed for military transport and could carry over 100 tonnes of cargo.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electronic components such as resistors and capacitors
  • Familiarity with the concept of Ground Effect Vehicles
  • Knowledge of military transport technologies
  • Basic historical context of computing technology development
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the technical specifications and historical significance of the ENIAC
  • Explore the design and operational principles of Ground Effect Vehicles
  • Investigate the military applications of the Ekranoplan
  • Learn about the evolution of computing technology post-ENIAC
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for historians, technology enthusiasts, and engineers interested in the evolution of computing and transport technologies, particularly those focused on military applications and early electronic devices.

  • #931
honestrosewater said:
Legos ...
That's it! :biggrin: Your turn.
 
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  • #932
yes you can..

potatomatopatoes?
 
  • #933
Yay, finally.
You will chase this anser to a source of refreshment.

I don't mind if you google, BTW. I googled to check if the things on Legos were called studs- it's allowed unless stated otherwise, right?
 
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  • #934
running water
 
  • #935
Huckleberry said:
running water
No, but that's clever.
 
  • #936
Mirage?...
 
  • #937
Yeah, it's allowed. I try to refrain when Danger is playing though. He doesn't like it. One day when everyone has google chips in their brains Danger will be the smartest man on earth.
 
  • #938
Mk said:
Mirage?...
Nope...
 
  • #939
honestrosewater said:
Yay, finally.
You will chase this anser to a source of refreshment.

I don't mind if you google, BTW. I googled to check if the things on Legos were called studs- it's allowed unless stated otherwise, right?
I'll need one hint to solve this. I think.
 
  • #940
Huckleberry said:
Yeah, it's allowed. I try to refrain when Danger is playing though. He doesn't like it.
I don't mind if someone has a pretty good idea and wants to double-check, although I won't do it myself. (If I did, I would have gotten the damned hovercraft question. :frown: )

Huckleberry said:
One day when everyone has google chips in their brains Danger will be the smartest man on earth.
That would pretty well put an end to game shows, so maybe it's not such a bad idea. (Except for 'Jeapardy', of course. I love that one.)
 
  • #941
Clue: What's good for the female is good for the male.

Okay, but this pretty much gives it away. I'm a careful speller.

You will chase this anser to a source of refreshment.
 
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  • #942
honestrosewater said:
Clue: What's good for the female is good for the male.
Well, I know that anser is a goose genus, but I did think that it was a typo until you said otherwise. And the goose and gander thing is clear enough. What I don't know is what the wild goose chase is about. Unless you just mean a lake or something.

I got to go to sleep now. I'll check back tomorrow afternoon.
 
  • #944
Mk said:
Yeah, its either a lake, a bar, or the Himalayas. Strange combination?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar-headed_Goose
Yes, you will chase a Bar-headed goose (a.k.a anser indicus) to a source of refreshment (a bar- the bar it's headed to... er um yeah). Eh, I could have done worse. :-p
 
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  • #945
You know what? That was really freakin stupid, and unsolvable due to technical limitations. (my last one I'm overwriting) I'll think of another.

honestrosewater: I liked yours, it was clever and creative.
 
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  • #946
Mk said:
honestrosewater: I liked yours, it was clever and creative.
Ah, my genius is appreciated at last! I thought it was a real challenge to the non-googlers, but they must like a challenge anyway ;)
 
  • #947
This one Evo might get if she comes quick enough:

Franzbear is walking in a forest and comes a clearing, where she/he/it sees a person. Franzbear is terrified, and lost, after going down that wooden rollercoaster. She asks the person where she is and he replies: Kanguru. Franzbear stands there and looks at him befuddled, and feels even more lost than before. Franzbear shoots him, then jumps off a nearby cliff, because Franzbear is seemingly random. What country is Franzbear in, and of what heritage is the person Franzbear asks?
 
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  • #948
I would guess the googlers will get this one before someone that doesn't have to does.
 
  • #949
Sorry, had to go.

Eratosthenes

Close enough. I was thinking of the shadow that was seen in the well at Alexandria, near the the library, but not in a deep vertical well near Syene (now Aswan), in southern Egypt, which is what clued him in.
 
  • #950
Mk said:
What country is Franzbear in, and of what heritage is the person Franzbear asks?
I would expect Australia and Aboriginal.
 
  • #951
Danger said:
I would expect Australia and Aboriginal.
I happen to know this is the correct anser. Your turn.
 
  • #952
Franzbear is Cap'n Cook, I take it ?

Chew on this till Danger wakes up...

In the autumn of 1789, Dr. Jo pleaded for the use of this thing on grounds of humanity and "equality". What was it ?
 
  • #953
Gokul43201 said:
In the autumn of 1789, Dr. Jo pleaded for the use of this thing on grounds of humanity and "equality". What was it ?
Would "Jo" be short for "Joseph"? And would this have anything to do with Robespierre's reign of terror during the French Revolution?
 
  • #954
zoobyshoe said:
Would "Jo" be short for "Joseph"? And would this have anything to do with Robespierre's reign of terror during the French Revolution?
aye and aye...anser up and go next.
 
  • #955
Gokul43201 said:
aye and aye...
Oh. In that case I have no idea.
 
  • #956
...and I thought this was was going to go down quick and easy; you know, no pain at all !
 
  • #957
Gokul43201 said:
...and I thought this was was going to go down quick and easy; you know, no pain at all !
I have no idea what this joke about decapitation means.

During the conflict, he sometimes resorted to using old window panes.
 
  • #958
zoobyshoe said:
Oh. In that case I have no idea.
You certainly better be kidding there... :bugeye:

edit: Never mind; your next posts came up while I was writing that. :redface:
 
  • #959
zoobyshoe said:
During the conflict, he sometimes resorted to using old window panes.
This is not related to Gokul's quetion. It is a new clue altogether.
 
  • #960
zoobyshoe said:
During the conflict, he sometimes resorted to using old window panes.
This is not the guy that came up with DDT, is it ? I think not...and I'm off.

BTW, the previous anser, as unansered by Zoob, was the guillotine.
 

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