On Fri, 9 Dec 2016 01:21:19 +1100, Daniel60
Post by Daniel60Post by PudentameOn Tue, 6 Dec 2016 22:52:09 +1100, Daniel60
Post by Daniel60Post by The DoctorPost by Tim BrueningPost by The DoctorPost by Tim BrueningA Dalek proposes to build a computer. How is it going to hold small
tools in its sucker arm?
Compouters were big as a room in those days.
But wouldn't they have small components (screws, nuts, bolts) requiring
small tools?
big chips.
Still not answering Tim's question, doctor!
The earliest computers I had any experience with were built using
discrete transistors & core memory. The CPU was cabinet the size of a
chest freezer with a multitude of plug-in circuit cards, with
everything connected by point-to-point wiring.
My earliest use of a computer was in 1983/4 when I did some
training/work on a PDP-8. Prior to this, I had seen, but not directly
used, an Australian Army STRaD (Signal Transmission, Reception and
Distribution) message switch ... about ten (six foot high) equipment
bays running maybe fifty foot deep each.
My school was near my dad's office and I would walk over there to wait
for him to get off work in the evenings so I could catch a ride home.
My dad was a top executive with a large insurance company & they began
computerizing in the late 50s - early 60s.
I wasn't actually allowed to use the computer, but I was allowed to
hang around in the computer room.
I became something of a "mascot" & they showed me things and explained
how they worked. I was allowed to do things like fetch card decks from
the sorter & put up data tape reels in the storage cabinet once they'd
been removed from the readers; small "gofer" stuff.
I don't remember what model it was, but I know it was IBM, because the
company replaced it with an IBM System/360 & I got to watch them move
the old equipment out & bring the new equipment in.
I didn't really get into using computers myself until the advent of
the IBM PC, although by that time I did have a good bit of experience
with microprocessor controlled electronics in certain specialty
applications.