Supposedly, one application of analog computing is simulating systems governed by differential equations. The discrete time step in a typical numerical simulat

Supposedly, one application of analog computing is simulating systems governed by differential equations. The discrete time step in a typical numerical simulation introduces some artifacts, often seen as an error at high frequencies. In an analog computer, you set up a system of differential equations by using integration components that you plug back into the system to literally form a feedback loop. Because such a setup is physical, it can simulate the target system without any temporal artifacts. The CCC hosted a great (English language) talk on this that really blew my mind: https://media.ccc.de/v/saal_mp7_og_-_2013-07-07_14:00_-_analog_computing_-_bernd_ulmann_-_5056 https://media.ccc.de/v/saal_mp7_og_-_2013-07-07_14:00_-_anal...