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That photo of Colossus

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Re: That photo of Colossus

#6
That's a fantastic story. At my grandfather's funeral (he was an electronic and medical researcher who developed early foetal pulse monitors as well as the respirators now used to treat sleep apnoea) it gradually became apparent that I was chatting with two of the people who'd installed one of New Zealand's first computer systems. Incredible conversation but it only lasted half an hour and then off they went. I wish I'd had a chance to record some of it.

Re: That photo of Colossus

#8
Damn, high-speed paper-tape! I used an early DNA sequencer controlled by paper tape, and it's touchy to keep the tape from breaking. I think that they migrated the mechanism from looms. The belt drives also remind me of the water- and steam-powered eras.

Re: That photo of Colossus

#9
post #8

Damn, high-speed paper-tape! I used an early DNA sequencer controlled by paper tape, and it's touchy to keep the tape from breaking. I think that they migrated the mechanism from looms. The belt drives also remind me of the water- and steam-powered eras.

Paper tape is indeed a descendant of the Jacquard Loom.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_loom#Mechanical_Jacqu...

Re: That photo of Colossus

#10
post #8

Damn, high-speed paper-tape! I used an early DNA sequencer controlled by paper tape, and it's touchy to keep the tape from breaking. I think that they migrated the mechanism from looms. The belt drives also remind me of the water- and steam-powered eras.

Paper tape is indeed a descendant of the Jacquard Loom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_loom#Mechanical_Jacqu...

First thing i think of. In fact the Ibm for quite a while can be considered as a punch paper card company (and their first antitrust is about their use of that to meter the computer use)
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