A long time ago, back in the 1700s, a chap called Charles Babbage designed and tried to build a computer. It didn't and couldn't work because the engineering precision needed just wasn't available at the time. It didn't seem to stop the scientists/engineers from pursuing the idea though, and now, here we are. Then more recently, people realised we'd sort of hit the practical limits of computing based on the widely accepted technology, so the boffins are looking at radical new ways to do it, and as always, there are the nay-sayers. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25787226 I bet that when the first motor cars hit the lanes, there were those that were quick to point out that a horse is faster and cheaper.
Babbage first designed his 'Difference Engine' (said to be the forerunner of the computer) but he also invented the 'Analytic Engine' which was much closer to being a modern computer.
There is a working example of the difference engine at the Science Museum in London. This link http://www.computerhistory.org/babbage/modernsequel/ Various groups are looking at building parts or all of an analytical engine. Also don't forget Ada Lovelace, who worked with him and had one of the early computer programming languages named after her (Ada). Nigel
Just had a look at the BBC article, interesting. It looks as if quantum computing will be better at some things than conventional computing, as usual "horses for courses". Also quantum computing is still a young field similar to silicon chip devices in the 60s. Nigel
Well if they don't try they won't ever find out. Years and years ago when I first started programming I used a language called Babbage, so I was interested to read this thread. Babbage's companion Ada Lovelace is an unsung hero of the programming world. Primarily a mathematician she then went on to write the very first computer program for Babbage's machine. As Nigel rightly points out there is a language named after her which is still very much in use in the aerospace industry. I am proud to still be using that language in my current job. Ada was a very special person, my personal heroine, she was the daughter of Lord Byron and died far too young. In the industry she is celebrated in October: http://findingada.com/. I love popping in to the Science Museum to see that early attempt at computing.
That was kind of my point when I started this thread. Its an unfair comparison. Its pitting technology that has been proven and refined over and over, against entirely new technology that we're still figuring out. Its like breeding a two race horses, then taking the new born foal and pitting it against the adult horses, then pointing and laughing because the foal didn't win. Well ok, its not like that at all, but I think you probably get the point I'm trying to make
Clueless1 "Its like breeding a two race horses, then taking the new born foal and pitting it against the adult horses, then pointing and laughing because the foal didn't win. Well ok, its not like that at all, but I think you probably get the point I'm trying to make" Nah the car one earlier was a better analogy Jack McH
Lord it makes me feel old. I just can't get my head around it! Fifty years ago, before integrated circuits, I was working with discrete transistorised logic circuits to manage mine car/coal waggon points switching. Then it was cutting edge but now seems like the stone age. I spent a few minutes this evening watching this> Lost the plot after 10 minutes
Considerably less than 50 years ago I study electronics, and even started my career in it, but the more experienced engineers (ie all of them) pointed out to me that I'm better off doing something else while I'm still young and green enough to switch career plans. They pointed out that it was getting harder and harder to be successful in electronics, because the days of designing a commercially viable circuit using off the shelf components were pretty much over, and instead it was all C.A.D. and high tech IC etching machines that only the top academics could get into. It was good advice I think.
I had similar advice when I was younger @clueless1 - I started in the TV / Video / Hi-fi game, and before too long the more experienced engineers encouraged me to get out while I was young enough to do so; they were right too - so many things are simply unrepairable nowadays, be that through construction or through the cost of replacement versus repair. I picked up some good advice from those guys, the most important one being "If you touch it, you are married to it" - seen that one play out a few times over the years.
Yep, cut my algorithmic teeth on boolean algebra. AND,OR,NOT and their opposites. So simple, but the basics of all digital processing. Oops, forgot the conditional IF and also THEN
