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> They absolutely could have built a digital computer and much more. No, absolutely not. I think you are deluding yourself. There is a long way to go from buil
by elteto 14y ago
> They absolutely could have built a digital computer and much more.
No, absolutely not. I think you are deluding yourself. There is a long way to go from building a fancy vase or discovering the existence of the zero quantity to developing the necessary mathematical, physical and chemical framework needed to produce even the most rudimentary piece of digital technology.
- maxerickson 14y agoAn abacus is essentially digital.
- aleyan 14y agoConsidering the abacus is finger operated, it is digital.
- maxerickson 14y agoI actually meant that it is used to store discrete values. For that matter, a pile of stones is essentially digital.
- baddox 14y agoIn the same way that counting stones or counting on your fingers is "digital."
- maxerickson 14y agoSure, it's a bit of a pedantic point. I don't think it is particularly tiresome in this case, I think the interesting thing about computers is that they are programmable.