Communications of the ACM
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From BLOG@CACM
How Do You Calculate on the Abacus?
Considering the use of one of the most long-lived calculating devices.
From BLOG@CACM
Tracking Down a Seminal Work on Computer Construction – in Russian
A Russian edition of Rutishauser's standard work on computer construction.
From BLOG@CACM
Discovery: User Manual of the Oldest Surviving Computer in the World
A rare find: the user manual of the oldest surviving computer in the world, the Zuse Z4 relay machine (1945).
From BLOG@CACM
Preparation for Building the First Swiss Digital Computer (Ermeth)
Eduard Stiefel's study trip to the U.S. in 1948/1949.
From BLOG@CACM
Automatic Translators are Not Really Capable of Learning
One does not get the impression the Google Translate and DeepL translation programs are self-learning and have made real progress.
From BLOG@CACM
The World's Largest Commercial Cylindrical Slide Rule has a Scale Length of 24m
The world's largest mass-produced cylindrical slide rules come from Loga-Calculator AG in Zurich/Uster, Switzerland.
From BLOG@CACM
Would There Be Computers Without Easter?
Finding roots of computing in the computation of Easter.
From BLOG@CACM
How Does a Pantograph Work?
Pantographs have been widely used for centuries; for example, in surveying and embroidery. With these devices, drawings can be enlarged and reduced.
From BLOG@CACM
Why Is There No Well-Known Swiss IT Industry?
Herbert Bruderer asks why no information technology industry emerged in Switzerland in the 1950s, despite the appearance of computers from several sources.
From BLOG@CACM
AI Began in 1912
Artificial intelligence began in 1912, with the world's first chess automaton built by Torres Quevedo.
From BLOG@CACM
Leonardo da Vinci's Robot Lion
We are celebrating the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death with a major exhibition of the Renaissance painter's works.
From BLOG@CACM
The African Enigma: Who Knows More?
Tally sticks and notched bones are among the oldest digital data carriers.
From BLOG@CACM
Who Manufactured the Mysterious Chinese Android?
In the 18th century, there were several famous makers of automatons in Europe; who created the Chinese musical clock automaton figure?
From BLOG@CACM
Leonardo's Self-driving Car
Leonardo da Vinci, who died 500 years ago, had already designed a self-driving car.
From BLOG@CACM
How Do You Calculate with the Sector?
The sector was developed in the second half of the 16th century, and was in widespread use until the end of the 19th century,
From BLOG@CACM
Google Translate Does Not Understand the Content of the Texts
How well do translation programs translate?
From BLOG@CACM
In Search of A Rare Roman Pocket Calculator
As far as we know, three original copies of the Roman hand abacus have survived. There is a fourth device, but nobody knows where it is.
From BLOG@CACM
Calculating With Roman Numerals is Not So Difficult
How to deal with Roman numerals and without a sign for zero in an additive number system, if no hand abacus is available?
From BLOG@CACM