These kids were rare and lucky (if you want to call it that) - access to computers wasn't very common then.
These kids are shown in the late 60's; the computer (an Elliot 405) dates from the late 50's - so obsolete even at the time of the video. It was donated to the school. It was 100% tubes - no transistors. Hence the breakdown. It took 10kW of power to run - that's like 8 hair driers running at once. That thing must have run HOT!
The video of the kids doing binary arithmetic is very cool. Each kid is only looking at one or two other kids, and is following very simple rules as to how to raise his arms based on what the other kids' arms. And the result is arithmetic - yup. That's exactly how it works.
That kid who wrote his own language - minigol - that kid was exceptional, even out of all those (very smart) kids. I bet he went on to do some cool things.
I find it hilarious that the "tune" the boys wrote for Nellie to play was, "What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor".
ReplyDeleteAnd in case you need English to American translation, "noughts and crosses" is tic-tac-toe.
ReplyDeleteI guess they had to put up with the Green Screen of Death on that oscilloscope.
ReplyDeleteThey're right, I found the whole thing a mystery! Including "noughts and crosses" (plus I was thinking "knots" was a weird thing to call the 0s, lol.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun video, nice find, Fay!
This is great Fay, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a fantastic find.
ReplyDeleteThese kids were rare and lucky (if you want to call it that) - access to computers wasn't very common then.
These kids are shown in the late 60's; the computer (an Elliot 405) dates from the late 50's - so obsolete even at the time of the video. It was donated to the school. It was 100% tubes - no transistors. Hence the breakdown. It took 10kW of power to run - that's like 8 hair driers running at once. That thing must have run HOT!
The video of the kids doing binary arithmetic is very cool. Each kid is only looking at one or two other kids, and is following very simple rules as to how to raise his arms based on what the other kids' arms. And the result is arithmetic - yup. That's exactly how it works.
That kid who wrote his own language - minigol - that kid was exceptional, even out of all those (very smart) kids. I bet he went on to do some cool things.