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[[Image:Digicomp I.JPG|thumb|350px|The original DigiComp I]]
[[Image:Digicomp I.JPG|thumb|350px|The original DigiComp I]]


The '''Digi-Comp I''' was a functioning, mechanical digital [[computer]] sold in kit form. It was originally manufactured from [[polystyrene]] parts by [[E.S.R., Inc.]] starting in 1963 and sold as an educational toy for US$4.99 ({{Inflation|US|4.99|1963|fmt=eq|cursign=US$}}).<ref name="Ad for Digi Comp I">{{cite web|url=https://www.syssrc.com/digicomp_I_Ad.png|title=Electronic Computer Brain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211190059/https://www.syssrc.com/digicomp_I_Ad.png|archive-date=2017-12-11}}</ref>
The '''Digi-Comp I''' is a functioning, mechanical digital [[computer]] sold in kit form. It was originally manufactured from [[polystyrene]] parts by [[E.S.R., Inc.]] starting in 1963 and sold as an educational toy for US$4.99 ({{Inflation|US|4.99|1963|fmt=eq|cursign=US$}}).<ref name="Ad for Digi Comp I">{{cite web|url=https://www.syssrc.com/digicomp_I_Ad.png|title=Electronic Computer Brain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211190059/https://www.syssrc.com/digicomp_I_Ad.png|archive-date=2017-12-11}}</ref>


The Digi-Comp I has been referred to as the first home computer.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Winkless |first=Nelson |date=November 1984 |title=The First Home Computer |journal=Creative Computing |pages=12}}</ref>
The Digi-Comp I has been referred to as the first home computer.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Winkless |first=Nelson |date=November 1984 |title=The First Home Computer |journal=Creative Computing |pages=12}}</ref>


A successor, the [[Digi-Comp II]], was not programmable, but in effect a visible calculator. A two-level [[Masonite]] platform with guides served as the medium for a supply of marbles that rolled down an inclined plane, moving plastic cams as they fell.<ref name="FODC2077">{{cite web|url=http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsofdigicomp/message/2077 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630172025/http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsofdigicomp/message/2077 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |title=Yahoo friendsofdigicomp |date= |accessdate=2013-04-17}}</ref>
A successor, the [[Digi-Comp II]], is not programmable, but in effect a visible calculator. A two-level [[Masonite]] platform with guides serves as the medium for a supply of marbles that rolled down an inclined plane, moving plastic cams as they fell.<ref name="FODC2077">{{cite web|url=http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsofdigicomp/message/2077 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630172025/http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsofdigicomp/message/2077 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |title=Yahoo friendsofdigicomp |date= |accessdate=2013-04-17}}</ref>


==Operation==
==Operation==
The Digi-Comp I contained three mechanical [[Flip-flop (electronics)|flip-flops]], providing an ability to connect them together in a programmable way using thin vertical wires that were either pushed, or blocked from moving, by a number of cylindrical pegs. The whole arrangement was "clocked" by moving a lever back and forth. Different configurations of these cylinders caused the Digi-Comp to compute different [[Boolean logic]] operations. With a three binary digit (3-bit) readout of the state of the flip-flops, it could be programmed to demonstrate binary logic, to perform various operations such as addition and subtraction, and to play some simple logic games such as [[Nim]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Woodhouse|first1=Trevor|title=K'nex Computer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkUd9rYkYnA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jkUd9rYkYnA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=YouTube|publisher=Trevor Woodhouse|accessdate=2015-11-15}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
The Digi-Comp I contains three mechanical [[Flip-flop (electronics)|flip-flops]], providing an ability to connect them together in a programmable way using thin vertical wires that are either pushed, or blocked from moving, by a number of cylindrical pegs. The whole arrangement is "clocked" by moving a lever back and forth. Different configurations of these cylinders cause the Digi-Comp to compute different [[Boolean logic]] operations. With a three binary digit (3-bit) readout of the state of the flip-flops, it could be programmed to demonstrate binary logic, to perform various operations such as addition and subtraction, and to play some simple logic games such as [[Nim]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Woodhouse|first1=Trevor|title=K'nex Computer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkUd9rYkYnA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jkUd9rYkYnA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=YouTube|publisher=Trevor Woodhouse|accessdate=2015-11-15}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


Although promotional materials described it as an "actual working digital computer,"
Although promotional materials described it as an "actual working digital computer,"

Latest revision as of 10:45, 21 December 2024

The original DigiComp I

The Digi-Comp I is a functioning, mechanical digital computer sold in kit form. It was originally manufactured from polystyrene parts by E.S.R., Inc. starting in 1963 and sold as an educational toy for US$4.99 (equivalent to US$50 in 2023).[1]

The Digi-Comp I has been referred to as the first home computer.[2]

A successor, the Digi-Comp II, is not programmable, but in effect a visible calculator. A two-level Masonite platform with guides serves as the medium for a supply of marbles that rolled down an inclined plane, moving plastic cams as they fell.[3]

Operation

The Digi-Comp I contains three mechanical flip-flops, providing an ability to connect them together in a programmable way using thin vertical wires that are either pushed, or blocked from moving, by a number of cylindrical pegs. The whole arrangement is "clocked" by moving a lever back and forth. Different configurations of these cylinders cause the Digi-Comp to compute different Boolean logic operations. With a three binary digit (3-bit) readout of the state of the flip-flops, it could be programmed to demonstrate binary logic, to perform various operations such as addition and subtraction, and to play some simple logic games such as Nim.[4]

Although promotional materials described it as an "actual working digital computer," the device is more accurately described as a finite-state machine, one of the underpinning concepts used to build computers.

Reproductions

A front view of the Digi-Comp I version 2.0.

Starting in 2005, Minds-On Toys has made available the Digi-Comp I version 2.0 as a relatively inexpensive binder's board version of the original Digi-Comp, albeit with a much enhanced instruction manual.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Electronic Computer Brain". Archived from the original on 2017-12-11.
  2. ^ Winkless, Nelson (November 1984). "The First Home Computer". Creative Computing: 12.
  3. ^ "Yahoo friendsofdigicomp". Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  4. ^ Woodhouse, Trevor. "K'nex Computer". YouTube. Trevor Woodhouse. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  5. ^ "Minds-On Toys - Kits". Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  6. ^ Clean Code - Uncle Bob / Lesson 5, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-06-23
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special%3ADiff/1264291565