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.

  • #1,951
This is a logical anecdote - one that can be deduced.
 
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  • #1,952
Ivan Seeking said:
No :smile:

Now wait, did I tell you about the leveling system, or was that a fortuitous joke?
You mentioned it along with several other engineering accomplishments in a thread I started last year about those people who scam inventors. You talked about the guy you know who was involved with the creation of the Biodome in the desert in the same thread IIRC.
 
  • #1,953
Ivan Seeking said:
This is a logical anecdote - one that can be deduced.
Oh, I bet the thing with the strap hanging off is some ferrous object that was sucked into the magnet.
 
  • #1,954
zoobyshoe said:
Oh, I bet the thing with the strap hanging off is some ferrous object that was sucked into the magnet.

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/3733/mriscrubber7ro.jpg

The janitor ain't supposed to go in there with the scrubber.

Something similar happened to me. Someone had mixed in a chair with iron in the frame, with the identical stainless steel chairs used in the MRI lab. That particular magnet was 0.95T as I recall, and I was literally taken off my feet with my arm slung through the chair. I had to winch it out! We had another guy who was a WWI vet who had some really low grade stainless pins in his leg from the war. They were virtually sucked out of his leg.
 
  • #1,955
That's fantastic!

I thought they made damn sure that stuff like this didn't happen, but that picture is brilliant!
 
  • #1,956
zoobyshoe said:
You talked about the guy you know who was involved with the creation of the Biodome in the desert in the same thread IIRC.



Oh, him. :rolleyes:
 
  • #1,957
brewnog said:
That's fantastic!

I thought they made damn sure that stuff like this didn't happen, but that picture is brilliant!

Oh, then you would be amazed at what goes on.
 
  • #1,958
retained a short section of wing about six feet in length?
 
  • #1,959
wolram said:
retained a short section of wing about six feet in length?
The autogiro?
 
  • #1,960
zoobyshoe said:
The autogiro?

I thought this one might have lasted a bit longer, but Zooby gets it in one :biggrin:
 
  • #1,961
Earth quake ,bird, dam. who?
 
  • #1,962
Cleansed by fire, or so legend says, this was made of the same material as some Egyptian burial cloths, and modern gaskets as well.

This came in handy if the Franks were messy.
 
  • #1,963
Asbestos, But were did this thread come from :confused:
 
  • #1,964
Asbestos is not the answer.

Re thread: It died so I brought it back.
 
  • #1,965
along time ago.
 
  • #1,966
yes, a long time ago
 
  • #1,967
Oh, Ivan ROCKS! I've been meaning to resurrect this thread, but I hate coming up with clues...
It's not asbestos?!? Wild guess: Fiberglass?
 
  • #1,968
Not fiberglass.

Be sure to read the question and rejected answers carefully. :biggrin:
 
  • #1,969
I can only think of Paper.
 
  • #1,970
Wolram, you were much closer the first time.
 
  • #1,971
Doh! Charlemagne's tablecloth. :rolleyes:
 
  • #1,972
wolram said:
I can only think of Paper.
That must get pretty boring after a while... :smile:
 
  • #1,973
Thin strips of gold?
 
  • #1,974
honestrosewater said:
Doh! Charlemagne's tablecloth. :rolleyes:


Asbestos (Greek a-, "not"; sbestos, "extinguishable") is a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals. The name is derived for its historical use in lamp wicks; the resistance of asbestos to fire has long been exploited for a variety of purposes. It was used in fabrics such as Egyptian burial cloths and Charlemagne's tablecloth, which, according to legend, he threw in a fire to clean
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos

You're up.

Oh yes
Charlemagne (c. 742 or 747 – January 28, 814) (or Charles the Great, in German Karl der Große, in Latin Carolus Magnus, giving rise to the adjective form "Carolingian"), was king of the Franks from 771 to 814
 
  • #1,975
Crapola. Okay.

They don't snuggle but eat each other, and they aren't fish.
 
  • #1,976
honestrosewater said:
Crapola. Okay.

They don't snuggle but eat each other, and they aren't fish.

snugglefish?
 
  • #1,977
Close... when men want to fall asleep, women want to...
 
  • #1,978
Black Widow?

or

Praying mantis?

Or a female hamster if you touch her offspring ?

Or a tom cat killing off a litter...

How many guesses are we allowed to post cause I could go on for quite a bit?
 
  • #1,979
cuddlefish... :smile:
 
  • #1,980
honestrosewater said:
Close... when men want to fall asleep, women want to...

Talking snuggle fish?
 

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