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.

  • #1,501
Point to fingerprints, not to retinal scans. I don't know what that might mean.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
  • #1,502
zoobyshoe said:
retinal scan?

cuddly toy for zooby
 
  • #1,503
honestrosewater said:
But how does that work with the first clue or flowers or blood? I really don't get the first clue if it isn't something to do with fingers or prints...

the first clue was to point you in the direction of identification.

Do you think it a crap clue?
 
  • #1,504
wolram said:
the first clue was to point you in the direction of identification.

Do you think it a crap clue?
No, I'm just complaining. Mostly about my not guessing it. It was a fine clue. :smile:
 
  • #1,505
honestrosewater said:
But how does that work with the first clue or flowers or blood? I really don't get the first clue if it isn't something to do with fingers or prints...
Or maybe with him not getting credit? I don't get the clues together. :confused:

Oh, flower could be iris...

Flower IRIS

Blood VEINS in eye
 
  • #1,506
So what's next zoobyshoe?
 
  • #1,507
wolram said:
the first clue was to point you in the direction of identification.

Do you think it a crap clue?
If you plug in the substitute words, you get:

Point to fingerprints, not to retinal scans.

This leads us to believe there's yet another step, when, apparently there isn't.

Also, the way you wrote it with no punctuation, suggests HonestRoseWater's first idea, which is that it is an instruction not to point to Foulds in a certain way. I thought for a while this meant the answer had to take the form Do not point to fould's as a charlatan or as a failure or whatever way it turned out to be.

Then, it occurred to me you meant "Point to Foulds, not this way." (notice the comma) meaning not in some other direction.

So, yeah, a lot of dead ends in the clue that we couldn't have overcome without your promptings.
 
  • #1,508
wolram said:
So what's next zoobyshoe?

He went looking for iron, but found cement.
 
  • #1,509
Just to get it out of the way- Joseph Aspdin.
 
  • #1,510
honestrosewater said:
Just to get it out of the way- Joseph Aspdin.
Not who I was looking for. Does this person fit the clue as well?
 
  • #1,511
zoobyshoe said:
He went looking for iron, but found cement.
Jimmy Hoffa?
 
  • #1,512
Danger said:
Jimmy Hoffa?
Incorrect!
 
  • #1,513
This is driving me nuts as its been on tv and i can not remember, but it was
in the US.
 
  • #1,514
zoobyshoe said:
Not who I was looking for. Does this person fit the clue as well?
Not sure about the iron part- he patented Portland Cement. I figured it was too easy but wanted to be sure.
 
  • #1,515
Danger said:
Jimmy Hoffa?
:smile: An A for creativity.
 
  • #1,516
wolram said:
This is driving me nuts as its been on tv and i can not remember, but it was
in the US.
Was it an explorer, archaeologist, inventor? What other profession could it be?
 
  • #1,517
wolram said:
This is driving me nuts as its been on tv and i can not remember, but it was
in the US.
Yes! It was in the US.
 
  • #1,518
honestrosewater said:
Not sure about the iron part- he patented Portland Cement. I figured it was too easy but wanted to be sure.
The iron part is important to the story. This is an obscure chapter is the life of an anything-but-obscure man. His quest for a new source of iron lasted nearly 20 years.
 
  • #1,519
honestrosewater said:
Was it an explorer, archaeologist, inventor? What other profession could it be?
Im still reeling from that slap by Zooby, so don't listen to me I am punch drunk. :smile:
 
  • #1,520
wolram said:
Im still reeling from that slap by Zooby, so don't listen to me I am punch drunk. :smile:
I believe the British may have a completely different sense of etiquette than we do. I never have any idea when I'm overstepping British standards for this. Talking to Brewnog I sometimes suddenly realize I've said something that would be taken as insensitively expressed over there while no one here would blink an eye.
 
  • #1,521
zoobyshoe said:
I believe the British may have a completely different sense of etiquette than we do. I never have any idea when I'm overstepping British standards for this. Talking to Brewnog I sometimes suddenly realize I've said something that would be taken as insensitively expressed over there while no one here would blink an eye.
Its our british humour, to make someone think we have been hurt, its sort
of the opposite to the stiff upper lip old boy thing, so don't worry Zooby we
are a thick skinned race, the only thing that really offends us is if you don't
stick your little finger out when drinking tea.
 
  • #1,522
Right, then! Let us carry on.
 
  • #1,523
Christopher Columbus? This is mainly a wild guess.
 
  • #1,524
honestrosewater said:
Christopher Columbus? This is mainly a wild guess.
Not Columbus. This person went looking for iron. He happened to find a source of cement, and decided to make use of it. He continued to work on the iron project, as well. He did not create or patent cement, just found a lot of it.
 
  • #1,525
I think he had an unusual ship named after him
 
  • #1,526
zoobyshoe said:
Not Columbus. This person went looking for iron. He happened to find a source of cement, and decided to make use of it. He continued to work on the iron project, as well. He did not create or patent cement, just found a lot of it.
Yes, but I'm not sure if it was iron for building or eating. I'm not asking, I'm just saying.
 
  • #1,527
wolram said:
I think he had an unusual ship named after him
He was famous enough for that to have happened, but I'm not aware that it ever did. I can't confirm or deny this guess.
 
  • #1,528
The only other explorer of Americas I can think of is Ponce de Leon. Maybe more in a minute.
Okay, it says Vazquez settled the Carolinas and I know Noth Carolina limestone was used a lot in construction??
 
  • #1,529
honestrosewater said:
Yes, but I'm not sure if it was iron for building or eating. I'm not asking, I'm just saying.
Iron for industry: he wanted masses of it.
 
  • #1,530
honestrosewater said:
The only other explorer of Americas I can think of is Ponce de Leon. Maybe more in a minute.
You have invented this clue yourself. I never said or implied he was an explorer of the Americas. All I said is he went looking for iron.
 

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