Science

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)

3. Without belittling Babbage's ideas, my vote for oldest computer goes here:

Wed Oct 24, 2012, 03:08 PM

Oct 2012

http://www.etl.uom.gr/mr/Antikythera/400X300%20ERSA%20New%201.5.rar

This mechanism is a clocklike astronomical computer dating from 87BC (2,000 yrs old), which was found on a ship that sank off the island of Antikythera (Greece) about 76BC. It was rediscovered in 1901. Studies of the mechanism shows that it was used to calculate the motions of stars and planets. Only about 20 of the gearwheels are preserved assembling to a differential gear-system. The whole mechanism was in a box, to protect the wheels and Greek inscriptions on every available space on the inside of the box were instructions to its assembly. A worthwhile moving demonstration can be found at this website: http://etl.uom.gr/mr/Antikythera/640X480.html.

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Could This Have Been The World's First Computer? [View all] n2doc Oct 2012 OP

Huh. I'll be. Nt xchrom Oct 2012 #1

The Antikythera mechanism littlemissmartypants Oct 2012 #2

It's an interesting coincidence that folks are right now rediving that area looking for more. dimbear Oct 2012 #18

Without belittling Babbage's ideas, my vote for oldest computer goes here: Jackpine Radical Oct 2012 #3

Lego bongbong Oct 2012 #5

I bet there's a vid online somewhere. Jackpine Radical Oct 2012 #7

Must have me on ignore littlemissmartypants Oct 2012 #14

No, just not smart enough to look at earlier posts. Jackpine Radical Oct 2012 #15

There's a whole genre of "steampunk" SF novels aboout Babbage's computer, and alternative histories leveymg Oct 2012 #4

William Gibson, iirc. Jackpine Radical Oct 2012 #8

"The future is already here � it's just not evenly distributed." - wg eom leveymg Oct 2012 #11

Ah, you read "The Difference Engine" as well... friendly_iconoclast Oct 2012 #13

Many have... DetlefK Oct 2012 #16

I remember a mechanical calculator about half the size Warpy Oct 2012 #6

Sort of. Jackpine Radical Oct 2012 #9

Babbage's analytical engine was programmable, which also made it more than the Antikythera mechanism muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #10

An Emulator... love it. hunter Oct 2012 #12

When I took my introduction to Computers back in 1985.... WCGreen Oct 2012 #17