The Computer History Museum is Awesome

Mountain View CA 01/09/10 The Computer History Museum

Over the weekend Donna and I got a rental car and headed down to Mountain View to go to the Computer History Museum. We specifically went to see the Babbage's Difference Engine #2. The Difference Engine #1 is the "computer" that drives many thoughts in science fiction about alternate realities that would exist if the Difference Engine was built and used and where technology would be now if we went the analog route rather than the digital route. We thought our visit was going to be watching the Difference Engine working and then 20 minutes of looking at other things but there was so much to see and all of it was so cool we ended up spending much more time there than we thought we would.

Donna posing in front of the sign outside the museum.

The Difference Engine #2 has 8000 parts and most of them are made of metal.

Here is a shot of the number gears. The stacks are 31 numbers high.

This gear let's the operator know how many turns it takes to do one complete calculation. It takes 4 turns of the handle to get the gear to go all the way around once and complete 1 calculation.

They had a giant warehouse chock full of old computers and computing devices. This is the first wall you are greeted with as you enter.

I liked the colors on this calculator. Imagine having to use something like that in your every day job. Was carpal tunnel an issue back in the day?

Here is some IBM propaganda complete with 2 cooperate song books.

This is a closeup of a front panel on one of the computers. You really have to know the ins and outs to work this thing.

Here is an Enigma Machine. It's an encryption machine invented at the end of WWI and used in WWII.

This computer offers an easy to use STOP button.

This computer reminds me of some of the ride control systems at Disneyland complete with intercom.

ELECTRODATA!

Vacuum tubes are cool!

This is a multi billion dollar defense machine that never actually defended anything.

Here is an early storage drum. It offered random access unlike magnetic tape.

Here is an example of magnetic tape storage.

THX CU BRB

This computer stares back at you.

That's it for now. If you get the chance I highly recommend the museum and it's free.

Jon and Donna