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.

  • #211
a piece of coke can be used in this equipment.
 
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  • #212
wolram said:
a piece of coke can be used in this equipment.
You must be referring to the handlebars of my racing bike. How did you know I was using a Modolo bar with a Ritchie stem?
 
  • #213
sorry CHEN, modolo bar? richie stem? its my fault i dont
get out enough.
 
  • #214
zoobyshoe said:
Aha! Sense of smell! The Chinese would speak of lumps of time as "the time it takes to burn a stick of incense."

Yes, the Chinese had "http://www.nmsi.ac.uk/piclib/imagerecord.asp?id=10239690 " which were composed of a long maze in which one long train of of several different kinds of incense were laid out. They would light it at sunrise, and house would smell like cinnamon. At "half-past-Jasmine", they knew it was time to eat lunch, high tea was at "quarter-to-frankinsense", etc.

I have often wondered, had this technology persisted, would the date stamp on official documents be "scratch-n-sniff"?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #215
wolram said:
a piece of coke can be used in this equipment.

DUH! :rolleyes: ; It's a Crack-Pipe!
 
  • #216
you guys are so waky, will it help if i say that a loo roll
inner could also be used in this equiptment
 
  • #217
I have often wondered, had this technology persisted, would the date stamp on official documents be "scratch-n-sniff"?
lol
 
  • #218
zoobyshoe said:
Hmmmm. I can't tell if your suggestion he shocked the turkey is a joke or not. Either way, it is correct. This is how Franklin killed his thanksgiving turkeys.

Your turn, Evo.
Has anyone heard of 'Popcorn Turkey'? (Sorry j- ust a quick OT question...)
 
  • #219
A pot-belly stove.
 
  • #220
wolram said:
sorry CHEN, modolo bar? richie stem? its my fault i dont
get out enough.

Bicycle parts. The stem holds the handlebars to the front fork. The size of the opening of the Ritchie brand stem is too large for the Modolo brand handlebar, so I have used a Coke can as a shim.

BTW, I'm not CHEN.

And P.S. "Loo roll inner?" You obviously must mean "Toilet paper core." THerefore you are talking about a kazoo.
 
  • #221
BTW, I'm not CHEN.
sorry, Chi Meson, no excuse.
 
  • #222
btw, its a piece of coke as in the stuff you burn
and the cardboard tube from loo roll.
 
  • #223
wolram said:
btw, its a piece of coke as in the stuff you burn
and the cardboard tube from loo roll.

We definitely have a dialect problem going on here.
 
  • #224
a miniature ineffective blast furnace?
 
  • #225
In industrial chemistry, coke refers to a type of refined coal. It is used to make pig iron as part of the steel-making process.
does this help Chi?
 
  • #226
a razor blade can replace the coke.
 
  • #227
so is it my blast furnace?
 
  • #228
coal, TP core, razor blade...
Are we talking about a crystal radio?
 
  • #229
coal, TP core, razor blade...
Are we talking about a crystal radio?
correct Chi
sorry Jimmy
your turn Chi.
 
  • #230
what have you done to Timmy the Toiletpaper man? :O
 
  • #231
Jimmy the loo roll cardboard tube is used as a former for
the coil, in bygon days people made things from whatever
they could lay there hands on, my first crystal radio was
made from, cardboard tube, piece of coke" the rectifier",
copper wire, "for the coil", a very long aerial, 20 Mtrs and
a good Earth peg, i had to buy the earphone and tuner,
i used to spend hours adjusting the cats whisker
 
  • #232
Jimmy p is referring to a classic Dilbert episode. Ratbert was traumatised.

Here's mine:

Glass was the original surface for one of these.
 
  • #233
Chi Meson said:
Glass was the original surface for one of these.
Are you referring to the photograph?
 
  • #234
Chi Meson said:
Jimmy p is referring to a classic Dilbert episode. Ratbert was traumatised.

Here's mine:

Glass was the original surface for one of these.

Post-nuclear test site ground surfaces? Well waddya want! Photograph was already taken!

Njorl
 
  • #235
Trampolines. Then they started getting hit with the lawsuits.
 
  • #236
Trampolines. Then they started getting hit with the lawsuits.
ouch. lol.
 
  • #237
Although "photograph" is a technically correct answer, as I tell my students, you did not read my mind, therefore you are wrong!

Hint: "his wife lent a hand"
 
  • #238
x-ray

yes
 
  • #239
Evo said:
x-ray

yes

Dang. I knew that hint was a giveaway.
 
  • #240
Chi Meson said:
Dang. I knew that hint was a giveaway.
Yep, I read that just the other day. His wife had to hold her hand still for 3 hours.
 

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