Re: The joy of FORTRAN

On 3/8/25 3:55 PM, Dan Espen wrote:

scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) writes:
 

rbowman <bowman@montana.com> writes:

On Sat, 8 Mar 2025 00:21:15 -0500, c186282 wrote:

>

Relay logic was sort of fun. You were building state machines with relays,
Eagle Signal electro-mechanical timers, limit switches, and so forth. I
never did it but even more fascinating were some of the complex machines
that were all cams, levers, gears, and springs except for the drive
motor.

>
I use and repair relay logic even in these digital times:
>
https://pinside.com/pinball/machine/target-pool

 That Target Pool looks a bit like my Jacks Open.
 I bought the Jacks Open and realized that as a home game, scoring special
just awarded credits.  Since we were playing at home credits were
meaningless.  The game had no Extra Ball feature.
 I figured out what kind of relay I needed, drilled a hole between the
flippers put a light there, and wired in the relay.  I was always struck
at how much like programming the wiring and relays were like.  I still
play the game.

   Contemplate how similar electrics and PLUMBING are  :-)
   Hmmmm ... betcha a 'hydraulic CPU' really could be made ...
   I did find something long back, the equiv of a 'hydraulic
   transformer' - high-pressure/low-volume to low-pressure/
   high volume. Likely the reverse is possible without too
   much complication. An oscillator using an air-chamber,
   the 'capacitor', and proper flow resistance to tune
   resonance freq and .......   :-)
   If I had to explain electrics to someone from the
   Roman empire days, I'd use plumbing analogies.