>> Enter mechanical computing. :)
There's nothing wrong with that. Some of the iconic first computers were
mechanical. ;-) (And I don't just mean Babbage's Analytical Engine; go
look up the Zuse Z1 computer.)
> Imagine how hard you'd have to push if you connected together a handful
> of these blocks!
Well, that's just it. The entire assembly is passive, whereas normally
logic gates have their output power derived from a source independent to
the input. (Especially buffers - that's essentially their entire point!)
It's not particularly easy to see how you'd do this with reciprocating
mechanical signals; if you were using continuous rotational motion, it
would be clearer that amplification is possible. (Although it's still
not obvious what the best way to achieve it is...)
Post a reply to this message
|