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.

  • #121
anyone have a what was, is it?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
  • #122
These provide a pulsed peak power of some 200 milliwatts at 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) and about 100 milliwatts at 127 Fahrenheit (50 Celsius).
 
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  • #123
wolram said:
colour photography, but didn't SUTTON? share in this achievement.
Correct about Maxwell. I don't know if anyone else was involved.
 
  • #124
These provide a pulsed peak power of some 200 milliwatts at 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) and about 100 milliwatts at 127 Fahrenheit (50 Celsius).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this has to be a laser the PPP is a give a way.
 
  • #125
two furlongs each way, with gates of solid brass; BC.
what was it?
 
  • #126
wolram said:
These provide a pulsed peak power of some 200 milliwatts at 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) and about 100 milliwatts at 127 Fahrenheit (50 Celsius).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this has to be a laser the PPP is a give a way.

But what LASER? She must have something special in mind.
 
  • #127
wolram said:
two furlongs each way, with gates of solid brass; BC.
what was it?

The stadium at Olympia?
 
  • #128
Ivan Seeking said:
But what LASER? She must have something special in mind.
hmmmmmmmm didn't think about that, and to be honest i don't have
a clue so EVOs question is unanswered.
 
  • #129
The stadium at Olympia?
no, you will have to work religiously hard to find this one, :biggrin:
 
  • #130
These provide a pulsed peak power of some 200 milliwatts at 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) and about 100 milliwatts at 127 Fahrenheit (50 Celsius).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The new devices, called quantum cascade (QC) lasers, are examples of a fundamentally new type of laser invented here only two years ago. The new versions are about 25 times more powerful than their predecessors.
 
  • #131
wolram said:
two furlongs each way, with gates of solid brass; BC.
what was it?

Within the ancient city of Babylon, "the sacred precinct of Jupiter Belus, a square enclosure two furlongs each way, with gates of solid brass".

From The History of Herodotus
http://www.bibleprobe.com/herodotus.htm


*my garden is calling me. wolram - take it away!
 
  • #132
wolram said:
These provide a pulsed peak power of some 200 milliwatts at 77 Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) and about 100 milliwatts at 127 Fahrenheit (50 Celsius).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The new devices, called quantum cascade (QC) lasers, are examples of a fundamentally new type of laser invented here only two years ago. The new versions are about 25 times more powerful than their predecessors.
Wolram, you are phenomenal! :smile:
 
  • #133
Tsunami said:
Within the ancient city of Babylon, "the sacred precinct of Jupiter Belus, a square enclosure two furlongs each way, with gates of solid brass".

TSUNAMI
correct *** *** and i thought that was difficult
 
  • #134
Wolram, you are phenomenal!

is that some new kind of green fuel :smile:
 
  • #135
which made it possible for the system to produce vacuums exceeding one millionth of an atmosphere.
what was it?
 
  • #136
wolram said:
which made it possible for the system to produce vacuums exceeding one millionth of an atmosphere.
what was it?
The Geissler mercury vacuum pump with improvements by Crookes.
 
  • #137
The Geissler mercury vacuum pump with improvements by Crookes.
OK you are zooby correct
 
  • #138
A little more that 180 feet high, this was destroyed to prevent its suspected use by the Germans.
 
  • #139
Russia's Zaporozhe Dam?
 
  • #140
Ivan Seeking said:
A little more that 180 feet high, this was destroyed to prevent its suspected use by the Germans.

A machine that generates amusing jokes?
 
  • #141
Tsunami said:
Russia's Zaporozhe Dam?
Ivan just came up from the office. He says 'wrong answer'.
Rats.
 
  • #142
It was first constructed at the expense of J. P. Morgan.
 
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  • #143
cragwolf said:
A machine that generates amusing jokes?
Ok, you made me snort Fresca up my nose. :frown:
 
  • #144
Evo said:
Ok, you made me snort Fresca up my nose. :frown:

They still make Fresca? :eek:

I thought that disappeared with Angel Flight pants and mood rings.
 
  • #145
Ivan Seeking said:
It was first constructed at the expense of J. P. Morgan.
Oh. I bet it was Tesla's magnifying transmitter in N.J. They may have thought German u-boats were using it as a landmark.
 
  • #146
Ivan Seeking said:
They still make Fresca? :eek:

I thought that disappeared with Angel Flight pants and mood rings.
Yeah, I thought it had disappeared with Tab (remember Tab? :eek: ), but it's still around and I've finally taking a liking to it, well at least when mixed with vodka. :wink:
 
  • #147
He was not told to remove the tower. Tesla removed it at his own loss. Because it was thought it would be used against the U.S. by the Germans. (WWI).
 
  • #148
As with so many stories about Tesla, the reported facts about this story seem to vary a bit.

SUSPECTING that German spies were using the big wireless tower erected at Shoreham, L. I., about twenty years ago by Nikola Tesla, the Federal Government ordered the tower destroyed and it was recently demolished with dynamite. During the past month several strangers had been seen lurking about the place.

Tesla erected the tower, which was about 185 feet high, with a well about 100 feet deep, for use in experimenting with the transmission of electrical energy for power and lighting purposes by wireless. The equipment cost nearly $200,000.

The late J. P. Morgan backed Nikola Tesla with the money to build this remarkable steel tower, that he might experiment in wireless even before people knew of Marconi. A complete description, revised by Dr. Tesla himself, of this unique and ultra-powerful radio plant was given in the March, 1916, issue of THE ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTER. Everyone interested in the study of high frequency currents should not fail to study that discourse as it contains the theory of how this master electrician proposed to charge this lofty antenna with thousands of kilowatts of high frequency electrical energy, then to radiate it thru the Earth and run ships, factories and street cars with "wireless power." [continued]

http://earlyradiohistory.us/1917tes.htm

1917tes.jpg
 
  • #149
Ivan Seeking said:
They still make Fresca? :eek:

I thought that disappeared with Angel Flight pants and mood rings.
Hey! Remember that mood ring you got for me? When I was in a good mood it was green and when I was in a bad mood it left a BIG freakin' red mark on your forehead? :biggrin:
 
  • #150
OMG I had forgotten. All this time I thought that mark was my third eye. :eek:
 

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