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http://plus.maths.org/content/why-was-co...hen-it-was

SNIP: [...] "We shall leave it there while we step back and reflect on the question raised by my title. Clearly the modern electronic computer had to wait until modern electronics - but could not some steam powered or clockwork version have been built earlier?" [...]

(Oct 17, 2014 03:36 PM)C C Wrote: [ -> ]http://plus.maths.org/content/why-was-co...hen-it-was

SNIP: [...] "We shall leave it there while we step back and reflect on the question raised by my title. Clearly the modern electronic computer had to wait until modern electronics - but could not some steam powered or clockwork version have been built earlier?" [...]

An interesting piece of fiction on the subject of computation alternatives is the Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling

(Oct 18, 2014 11:26 AM)stryder Wrote: [ -> ]An interesting piece of fiction on the subject of computation alternatives is the Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling

Since it was pivotal for the emergence of the steampunk genre, that turned out to be as influential (in its own way) at the dawn of the '90s as Neuromancer was for the '80s. Never imagined it becoming that significant when I first read it, even though it seemed an engaging spin on the Victorian era to me. Never heard of Babbage, Ada Lovelace, etc, before that.

Navy analogue weapons aiming computer. 1953.
Very interesting video showing how complicated calculations can be done mechanically.