Re: Mechanical computers: Turing Machine and Analytical Engine

On Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:02:46 -0700 (PDT), hps <stricker@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Aug 17, 7:48 pm, Cliff <Clhupr...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:06:56 -0700 (PDT), hps <stric...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Now let me introduce to you the genuine idea:

Creating a CAD-based toolkit for defining

- abstract machines (like Turing, Babbage, register (abacus vs. von
Neumann vs. Harvard architecture), Wolfram automatons, ...)
- transforming abstract definitions into concrete mechanical (sic!) 3D-
models which visualize the processes going on in these maschines

Since the processes take place on very different levels, creating
these models virtually is an issue! Think of a merge of the above
VIDEO and SLIDESHOW, with random access to systemic and geometric view
points.

That's silly.

IF you want to play with such get a computational simulation
package of some sort & watch the bits flip.
--
Cliff

IFit's silly: why do some people spend so much time and money in
implementing mechanical simulations?

Hobby & history & museum buffs.

- Nathan Myrvohld (OK: in honor of Babbage's merits and for historical
reasons)
- Ira Gilbert, Jacques Cohen: A simple hardware model of a Turing
machine: its educational use (http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?
id=569940)
- Tim Robinson: Babbages Analytical Engine (http://www.meccano.us/
analytical_engine/index.html)

It's my own experience: physical simulations are much more suggestive
than mere flipping bits - if they are well done. It is about computing
*machines*.

You don't need "suggestive". You need understanding.

I understand your point: the principles can in principle be
demonstrated with flipping bits. But why is this NOT silly: "Just look
at the formal definitions!" (you could say.)

Or take a few classes in computer science.

BTW, For a few things analog computers may still be better.

For you: Buy a few old desktop mechanical calculators &
take them apart. Check Ebay, etc.
Then try to put them back together so that they work again <G>.

Hans-Peter
--
Cliff
.

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