3 ms·
Computers and looms have always had a close-knit history (sorry I had to do it). During the industrial revolution there was a ton of innovation in looms, becaus
by rectangletangle 7y ago
Computers and looms have always had a close-knit history (sorry I had to do it). During the industrial revolution there was a ton of innovation in looms, because producing fabric was very labor intensive. These early industrial looms are just sophisticated mechanical computers.
- MarcScott 7y agoI believe that the reason early computers used punched cards, was because it was a technology already widely used for looms. Babbage just looked for what was already available for his Difference Engine. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punched_card https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punched_card
- davemp 7y agoWhat's interesting is that this idea has (very loose) roots in antiquity. Many beliefs had deities of fate that controlled the destinies of mortals by weaving. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fates
- Gravityloss 7y agoJohn Von Neumann's dad brought home loom programming cards too.
- vixen99 7y agoThe guy who showed it could be done automatically was Jacquard who built an automatic loom directed by punched cards, patented in 1804. Hollerith later took the idea but never acknowledged Jacquard's massive contribution.