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?
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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?
Neither, they occured when they were needed. How's that for a bit of left field thinking.
The evolution of fingers was the critical event in the take off of digital technology.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikmas
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.
You reckon?Quote:
Originally Posted by Landloper
I guess counting was hard when we had flippers ... although we would have got to binary quicker :lol:
Surely Boole, Babbage and Jaquard were bigger (and earlier) milestones and Turing et al just small stepping stones by comparison?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
..or the invention of clockwork long before that
The wheel
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
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?