Computer in 1900

[Jules Richardson]

Brent Hilpert wrote:
> Jules Richardson wrote:
>> Brent Hilpert wrote:
>>  > The idea of building such large systems was
>>> considered daunting or simply implausible even in the 1940's
>> I think the issues there revolved largely around a belief that the end result
>> simply wouldn't work to the required spec, rather than it not being possible
>> to do at all.
> 
> With a (large) digital system what's the difference? It was a concern which did
> have to be addressed (with techniques like margin checking, amongst others) to
> get useful production/uptime out of the machines. Refer to Will's earlier
> mention of probability and statistics.

My thinking was that the astronomical cost needed to get a device of unknown 
speed and reliability (which might not prove more efficient than the human 
workers it would replace) into production put a damper on most plans - people 
could likely see that a computer (in the electronic / electro-mechnical sense) 
would work, but not necessarily be able to judge how well...

cheers

Jules