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#1 2010-06-21 16:43:22
- Samueldora
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-07-19
- Posts: 90
Back to the future ... of computer science!
Imagine: 70 years ago. A world without computers! You have a vision of building a program controlled calculating machine. You try to realize it with mechanical elements. It doesn't work properly due to mechanical problems.
You need relays or tubes, but you don't have the money to buy new ones. You buy used phone relays from a scrap dealer and repair them. 2600 relays, one by one, by hand, together with a friend. You build a computer from those relays.
The big moment approaches, you start the machine. It is rattling, clicking and blinking for minutes, reading its program from punched film tape and performing it step by step. Then it stops. You look at the result. It is correct, your computer works, YOU DID IT!
This is a true story! It happened when Konrad Zuse (*Jun 22, 1910) built his famous Z3 computer. Try a Scratch simulation of the Z3 here:
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/Samueldora/1100000
Last edited by Samueldora (2010-06-22 17:33:50)
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#2 2010-06-21 16:58:02
Re: Back to the future ... of computer science!
Very cool! And here I was, thinking the Colossus was the first. =P
Well, At least I Have the History of VIDEO GAMES right. It really bugs me when people say the very first video game was "Pong."
SCRATCH 2.0 OHHHHH MANNNNNNN
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#3 2010-06-22 16:17:13
- Samueldora
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-07-19
- Posts: 90
Re: Back to the future ... of computer science!
Colossus was a legend of its own. I read a documentation and a novel about cracking the Enigma code.
Which was the first video game then. Tic-Tac-Toe on an EDSAC machine in the early 50s?
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#4 2010-06-22 20:43:08
Re: Back to the future ... of computer science!
Samueldora wrote:
Colossus was a legend of its own. I read a documentation and a novel about cracking the Enigma code.
Which was the first video game then. Tic-Tac-Toe on an EDSAC machine in the early 50s?
No, that doesn't count in my opinion. (and it's a very heavy opinion) the first ORIGINAL game was Tennis For Two, and it was created for a Lab Exhibition in 1958. It was later dismantled. (yeah, I know all this stuff on hand)
SCRATCH 2.0 OHHHHH MANNNNNNN
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#5 2010-06-22 21:37:38
- soupoftomato
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-07-18
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Back to the future ... of computer science!
I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos
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#6 2010-06-28 01:10:52
- Samueldora
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2009-07-19
- Posts: 90
Re: Back to the future ... of computer science!
@soupoftomato
That 'reload to see another' is a nice trick!
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