Richard J. Ridel's all-wooden, mechanical Turing machine uses the smallest set of data elements capable of computing any calculation: 0, 1 and blank; it was inspired by Ridel's viewing of The Imitation Game.
There are a number
of issues that need mentioning.
I did not build a safeguard into the
Writing Wires. Things will
break if the machine attempts to write a ‘0’ as well as a ‘1’.
And wires can migrate and drift.
The Reader Rocker basically floats when reading a ‘0’. It could
move and present the wrong data to the back of the Configuration
Mechanism.
Build the machine so timing and throw are adjustable.
Build the machine so you can remove a part without having to
completely dismantle the entire thing.
My part names are not the most logical nor clear.
My engineering technique is not the
best, however, efficiency
and simplicity can be ignored for artistic aesthetics.
In the end, I had fun building it. And I guess that’s all that
matters.
The queue area at the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland features a row of changing portraits wherein paintings everyday scenes are revealed as sinister and haunted (originally the effect was done with crossfading slide-projectors; now it's done with an amazing, crisp electroluminiscent effect).
This is my last day at my desk until Labor Day: tomorrow, we're driving to Burning Man to get our annual dirtrave fix! If you're heading to the playa, here's three places and times you can find me:
Are we done with capsule coffee makers yet? Sure, they’re easy. But they are not so easy on the environment, and it’s debatable whether they actually make a better cup. Luckily, there’s never been a better time to switch back to the good old reliable drip method – especially when drip coffeemakers have quietly been […]
If there’s one thing that stayed consistent through the last decade or so of tech industry turmoil, it’s the love affair between techies and Linux. There’s just a ton you can do with the OS, and its open-source format means you can customize your rig from the ground up. Apparently not content with that level […]
Accidents happen. And when they do, you’re going to want a dash cam for a second pair of eyes. At the minimum, a decent dash cam can save you vast sums of time and money in case of an accident. But a really good dash cam can do a whole lot more. Here are six […]
