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"Digital computers" would've been a more accurate usage in the comment to which you're responding. World War II guided weapons (mainly just the German V missile
by throwanem 7y ago
"Digital computers" would've been a more accurate usage in the comment to which you're responding. World War II guided weapons (mainly just the German V missiles) used very simple and rudimentary analog computers for coursekeeping, and World War II gun laying and fire direction was done with analog integrating machines of impressive heft and complexity [1]. They're actually very fascinating devices, not to mention being among the pinnacles of the manual machinist's art even in that art's own halcyon days, but they're not really relevant here.
[1] http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/57o.htm http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/57o.htm
- krapp 7y agoFair enough, but I think any definition of "digital computer" that includes IBM electro-mechanical punch card tabulators would surely also include the Enigma, Allied Bombe and Colossus, which makes at least three feasibly large applications of computing between the Holocaust and Manhattan Project.
- uk_programmer 7y agoIf one searches around youtube there is quite a lot of films reels people have uploaded show the devices in action. e.g. This is a fire control mechanism for ships. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1i-dnAH9Y4 Very clever stuff indeed.