Which is the mother of the byte??

[mikmas]

Being completely mathematically challenged I was wondering ...

In terms of the history of digital technology, which development was the most crucial - the clock or the weaving loom?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Neither, they occured when they were needed. How's that for a bit of left field thinking.

[Landloper]

Being completely mathematically challenged I was wondering ...

In terms of the history of digital technology, which development was the most crucial - the clock or the weaving loom?

The evolution of fingers was the critical event in the take off of digital technology.

[The Black Adder]

An argument which has so many threads of debate depending on social circumstances.

Some would even say that the Atari 2600 was one of the most important developments in a more recent generation.

I would say the development of the Colossus or Turings's Bombe machines. To me they still stand like monolithic landmark milestones. Why? Well, I believe we wouldn't be here in now without them.

[mikmas]

The evolution of fingers was the critical event in the take off of digital technology.

You reckon?
I guess counting was hard when we had flippers ... although we would have got to binary quicker :lol:

[mikmas]

I would say the development of the Colossus or Turings's Bombe machines. To me they still stand like monolithic landmark milestones. Why? Well, I believe we wouldn't be here in now without them.

Surely Boole, Babbage and Jaquard were bigger (and earlier) milestones and Turing et al just small stepping stones by comparison?

..or the invention of clockwork long before that

[Audio Al]

The wheel

[Barry]

The invention of zero, both as a number, a quantity and a placeholder.

[walpurgis]

The invention of zero, both as a number, a quantity and a placeholder.

I have a friend known as 'Zero Man'. He is the world's greatest under-achiever. His whole life adds up to a big fat Zero!

[donmarrese]

Thought I'd throw in my 2p worth...
At Uni in early 90's, we were force fed (Read) Alvin Toffler "The Third Wave" Apart from sending me into a deep Coma for that semester, It was considered to be the best crystal "IT" ball you could have at the time. He describes the first and second waves as the agricultural and industrial revolutions, the "third wave," a phrase he coined, represents the current information, computer-based revolution. He forecast the spread of the Internet and email, interactive media, cable television, cloning, and other digital advancements...(Hifi) This book came out in 1980...Which leads me to Origin of the open circuit
First recorded in 1820–30..bit of a gap heh?

[struth]

I suppose Gravity is although many may say it's the internet.

Both are wrong. It's GRAVY

[Pigmy Pony]

I suppose Gravity is although many may say it's the internet.

Both are wrong. It's GRAVY

Agree 100%. Apparently down south they lag behind in this technology.

[struth]

I will be gravy making tomorrow. I invented mine after being hit on head with a bathtub while resting under a tree

[Len Co]

I often wonder what the world was like before Newton discovered gravity, there must have been apples flying about all over the place.