3 ms·
Something I've wondered: is the lock the first machine to do a discrete, conditional action? That'd make it a kind of ancestor to digital computers, before vari
by abecedarius 12y ago
Something I've wondered: is the lock the first machine to do a discrete, conditional action? That'd make it a kind of ancestor to digital computers, before various automata and then Jacquard and Babbage.
Feedback control goes back to the first millennium BC, too, but that seems more like analog computing.
- bandrami 12y agoThat might be the screw (hold if push, moved if twisted). Though I suppose a screw could be seen as a very basic kind of lock.
- abecedarius 12y agoInteresting point of view -- I hadn't thought of it that way. It seems to be a more recent invention, though.
- ggchappell 12y ago> is the lock the first machine to do a discrete, conditional action? Interesting question. I would guess that the answer is "no". Animal traps based on some kind of triggered action probably predated the keyed lock.
- abecedarius 12y agoGood point! I feel embarrassed. Thanks. (Maybe the lock could still get credit for the logical AND?)
- JacobAldridge 12y agoNever feel embarrassed for asking a great question!
- ggchappell 12y agoAgreed.