Subject:
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Re: Building a computer from Lego's
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Wed, 31 Jan 2001 02:57:28 GMT
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Original-From:
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Harley Myler <h.myler@myler.org#AntiSpam#>
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Viewed:
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1352 times
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At 1:36 AM +0000 1/31/01, James Powell wrote:
> My understanding is that a all relay machine can be built which can be classed
> as a electric (not electronic) computer. One can do all the normal logic that
> is required for a computer (and, or, not- the remainder are special
> combinations) using relays (note, diodes make it much easier, but it can be
> done without them...). One can store data using a relay, and check on the
> status of the data. One can (conceveably) reprogram a relay computer, no
> matter that it is quite inpractical on a large scale.
You are absolutely correct. The reason I was quoting "computer" was because it
has such a broad definition. Some folks get downright violent if you call an
abacus a computer, but it is. What you really need to do is classify the
computer. the most ubiquitous is the "Von Neumman Machine", a computer that
stores it's program in the same memory as it's data and typically has four basic
parts: input, output, memory and CPU. The CPU is further divided into control
unit, arithmetic-logic unit and registers. After that you just have variations
on a theme. My point was that the tic-tac-toe computer is simplistic--it runs a
single, deterministic program. A computer nonetheless.
> Right now I am taking a course on PLC's (Programmable Logic Controllers), and
> the info is quite interesting. Babbage #2 is most definitely a computer, at
> least to my mind, as would be one of the Bletchly Park BombÈs.
>
> James Powell
You must accept Babbage #1 (the difference engine) as a computer, even though,
like the tic-tac-toe machines, it only ran a single program (non-programmable).
No one will argue, however, that the programmable machines aren't more
interesting.
Harley Myler
http://macmyler.engr.ucf.edu
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Building a computer from Lego's
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| (...) tic-tac-toe "computer" from relays, they had one at the old Buhl Planetarium in Pittsburgh. The game of tic-tac-toe is easily simulated with a finite state machine (FSM) as there are fixed strategies, clear outcomes and lots of symmetry. The (...) (24 years ago, 31-Jan-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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