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November 29, 2006

Ancient computing

Ancient Computer Found, Can't Play Doom - Gizmodo

So, some scientists have found what may be the world's oldest computer. Which is kind of rad...

What this shows me is not the hight of ancient technologies, but rather it's limitations. The computer was made of gears; Each gear was hand cut. Until humanity was able to mass-manufacture precision instruments, we would always be stuck using such crude tools...

Though perhaps had they stuck with such designs, our ancestors would have developed such tools. All of this brings to mind the simple question: if the thing was so bleeding useful, why did people stop using it? Surly the Romans (who conquered the Greeks) would have found it just as useful-- and there must have been a Greek slave willing to trade the design for his freedom...

I would submit that this machine didn't work nearly as well as we think it might have...

Posted by Andrew at November 29, 2006 04:16 PM

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Comments

I did not read the article, so I'm not sure if this is what you're basing your logic on... I'm not going to deny that some may have used your line of thinking (ancient computer, significance must be that the ancients were fucking brilliant to create something so useful!), but I think that is not its significance at all.

Maybe it's the part of me that wanted to be a sociology & psychology major, but I would say that the significance is the repeated linear direction of human thought. *Twice* we created computers. Albeit, the second time we had more technology and a better actual product. History repeats itself, as do our inventions. They just change a bit every time :)

That, and look at what a better job we can do with better technology. But, damn, look at that creativity.

Hight rather than height? I feel that's wrong, but if it's not, enlighten me.

Posted by: Wanton Expressions [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 1, 2006 02:08 PM