#mechanical computer

Watercolour portrait of Ada King, Countess of Lovelace also known as Ada Lovelace, ca. 1840, possibly by Alfred Edward Chalon.

Ada Lovelace, is celebrated as the first computer programmer. In the early 19th century, she wrote detailed notes on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a pioneering mechanical computer.

Among these notes was an algorithm designed to compute Bernoulli numbers, which is recognized as the first published computer program. At a time when computing was an uncharted territory, Lovelace envisioned the potential of machines to perform complex tasks beyond basic arithmetic.

Her foresight and contributions laid the groundwork for modern computer science.

// interesting article about the Antikythera mechanism

// interesting lectures about the Antikythera Mechanism and the shipwreck it was found on by the computer history museum

Secrets of the Antikythera Mechanism:

Session 1

https://youtu.be/cSh551cdIEY

Secrets of the Antikythera Mechanism:

Session 2

https://youtu.be/bYxwnQZndTM

Rest in peace, Charles Babbage.  While he was an all around polymath of a guy (founding such varied organizations as the Analytical Society and the Astronomical Society), Babbage is best known these days as the father of the computer--he was the first to invent a theoretical digital programmable computer (his “analytical engine”) [Konrad Zuse actuated the first programmable computer--Babbage’s was only theoretical].  [Fellow stamp enthusiasts: he also took an interest in matters postal and after he took it into his head to investigate, concluded that the post should be governed by a uniform postal rate--what eventually came to be Rowland Hill’s pennypost.]  [Along with Tesla, Babbage is a rather popular figure in steampunk works.]  He died on this date in 1871 at the age of 79.

Stamp details: Stamp on left: Issued on: March 5, 1991 From: London, England MC #1321

Add/subtract gear mechanism designed.  Turning the orange shaft causes one or both of the orange gears to engage between the data drum (green) and the accumulator store (blue).  Turning the green shaft then rotates the accumulator store the same (for addition) or the opposite (for subtraction) direction.  Centering the orange shaft disengages both gears.  When disengaged, turning the yellow shaft one full revolution clockwise causes the value stored in the accumulator store to be copied out to rotation of the green shaft (data output).

Learned how to use the Solidworks Gear Mate feature for this.  Very helpful for making sure everything meshes correctly.

Next part to design will be the carry/borrow flag mechanism.  This will be set by an overflow of the accumulator store during addition or subtraction, and cleared by the movement of the add/subtract mechanism out of the center position.  Then the last things to do will be to design the structural frame that locates all the bearings and shafts.

//interesting article about the Antikythera mechanism, which was found in a Shipwreck off the coast of the island of Antikythera in 1901