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The Antikythera Mechanism, sometimes called the world’s first computer, has now been examined with the latest in high-resolution imaging systems and three-dimensional X-ray tomography. A team of British, Greek and American researchers was able to decipher many inscriptions and reconstruct the gear functions, revealing, they said, “an unexpected degree of technical sophistication for the period.”
The detailed imaging revealed more than twice as many inscriptions as had been recognized from earlier examinations. Some of these appeared to relate to planetary as well as lunar motions. Perhaps, the researchers said, the mechanism also had gearings to predict the positions of known planets.
NYTimes Article [nytimes.com]
At some time in our history, guessed to be about 150-100 BC, someone built this highly complex instrument. That someone is speculated to be the astronomer Hipparchos. The device was possibly built for use on the open seas and for calculating planting seasons. The thing is, it was lost at sea, and so the technology had to be re-invented.
Even though the device is entirely mechanical it is still considered advanced enough to be called a computer. What do you think?
it is still considered advanced enough to be called a computer. What do you think?
I'd venture a definition: anything that accepts a parameter and outputs a derived result using mathematics, whether the algorithm is in a block of Java code or a series of gears.
I'd say an abacus isn't really a computer, neither is a sextant, but a case could be made for the slide rule
