Building a ternary computer at home: a software emulator

averros wrote: post #2

Of course, people DID build ternary computers. The most notable of these is Setun' (I had a chance to play with it at Moscow State University). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setun

Setun is the only example, and it had a binary memory.

Re: Building a ternary computer at home: a software emulator

#5

Post by edf13 » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 10:38 AM UTC

What could be the main benefits of Ternary vs. Binary computing in real world applications?

Re: Building a ternary computer at home: a software emulator

#6

Post by haqreu » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 10:40 AM UTC

edf13 wrote: post #5

What could be the main benefits of Ternary vs. Binary computing in real world applications?

Fun!

Re: Building a ternary computer at home: a software emulator

#7

Post by ColinWright » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 10:47 AM UTC

edf13 wrote: post #5

What could be the main benefits of Ternary vs. Binary computing in real world applications?

I'm replying from memory, so this might be worth researching for yourself, but I remember a cryptography conference where someone was talking about how important it was to use constant-time algorithms to prevent leaking information about the number of bits that were set in keys and messages, and demonstrated that using balanced ternary allowed some really cool techniques.

Don't know if any of that has made it into the literature, but you could have a look.

Re: Building a ternary computer at home: a software emulator

#8

Post by shakna » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:00 AM UTC

haqreu wrote: post #4

averros wrote: post #2

Of course, people DID build ternary computers. The most notable of these is Setun' (I had a chance to play with it at Moscow State University). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setun

Setun is the only example, and it had a binary memory.

There was also the Canadian QTC-1. [0]

[0] https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/en/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=2009020829793...

Re: Building a ternary computer at home: a software emulator

#9

Post by haqreu » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:16 AM UTC

shakna wrote: post #8

haqreu wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Setun is the only example, and it had a binary memory.

There was also the Canadian QTC-1. [0] [0] https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/en/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=2009020829793...

This is ROM only, not a fully functioning computer.

Re: Building a ternary computer at home: a software emulator

#10

Post by jblazevic » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 11:26 AM UTC

edf13 wrote: post #5

What could be the main benefits of Ternary vs. Binary computing in real world applications?

It is mathematically the most "economical" integer base in terms of space, when considering complexity of digit representation along with word length [1].

[1] Hayes, B. (2001). Third base. American Scientist 89: 490-494 (http://lrss.fri.uni-lj.si/sl/teaching/ont/lectures/third_bas...)