[GreenKeys] Was: TWX/TELEX now: Analog Computers

[Robert Nickels]

On 4/15/2021 7:37 PM, John wrote:
> Google "analog computer" to a deluge of info.

I know this is a slide from analog to digital, but there was a heck of a 
lot of analog controlled by it...including rocket engines.   I'm 
referring to the Apollo Guidance Computer or AGM, and this just gave me 
a plausible reason to post a couple of links since I'm certain more than 
a couple folks here will find it as fascinating as I have.    First of 
all, forget that nonsense about your wristwatch having more processing 
power, at least until you've watched this talk that details what the AGM 
was and how it worked:

https://youtu.be/B1J2RMorJXM

Yeah, it's an 81 minute video (the last 20 are Q&A however).    But if 
you're like me and all those who left comments, you will watch the whole 
thing and cry when it's over ;-)     Then, if you really get bitten by 
the AGC bug, you can make a career out of watching videos about it on 
YouTube, but none compare to those from "CuriousMarc" whose multi-part 
documentary chronicles the restoration of an actual working AGC, 
including demonstrating the restored AGC to the Project Engineer, who is 
now 98 years old and who made the risky decision to use new and 
unprecedented Integrated Circuit technology in the AGC.   (FPGA 
designers will see many parallels).

The series now stands at 27 episodes, here's the playlist and other 
links can be found at the top of any of the videos:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-_93BVApb59FWrLZfdlisi_x7-Ut_-w7

I keep getting distracted by the other fantastic stuff on his 
channel...just look and see...if you can get past the numerous Teletype 
videos!

Nothing new to anyone here - but a nice demo of his restored model 19, 
for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxkygWI-Wfs

73, Bob W9RAN