The world's oldest original working digital computer, called the Witch, goes on display.
Weighing 2.5 tonne and a bit on the slow side (it took 10 seconds to multiply 2 numbers)
Built around 1950 it shows just how far we have come in the tech world.
I recommend watching the little video, it's fascinating when they turn the machine on.
WHY WILL IT NOT CONFESS TO WITCHERY? IT WILL HANG FOR THIS!
Goody Hazelnut, will you not plead with the computer to confess itself to walking with Lucifer and casting its spirit upon others!?
I believe that it is entitled to a trial by ordeal.
If a 2.5 tonne computer is thrown into water and sinks, then it is innocent,
but if it floats then it is guilty and must be burnt.
@winapp2.ini
I bet you even think an abacus is evil (or abici if there is more than one)
@Alan
Have you thought of being a lawyer?
I wonder if they ever thought of making a pocket witch?
@winapp2.ini
I bet you even think an abacus is evil
(or abici if there is more than one)
Would you go to the computer and ask it with whom it saw the devil? If it confesses itself, it can be saved yet! Salvation is not out of reach!
Sorry it's a no go. Swears it is innocent.
It also denied being a Windows 9 prototype
This is an attack upon the court, surely!
The Computer Is EvilThe core of a computer is a small trapped evil spirit (it is no coincidence that UNIX and GNU/Linux processes are called daemons!) This imp is imprisoned in your computer as punishment for something it did in the netherworld. Generally speaking, the more evil the imp is, the faster the computer is. There are also lesser ghosts and hobgoblins that inhabit the expansion cards and peripherals of your computer. These evil spirits are trapped within the hardware of your computer. Take a screwdriver, open up your computer, and take a look at the circuit boards. They are usually green, and are covered with complex patterns of thin copper lines. These are Circuit Runes, written in arcane and ancient languages that describe the magic spells that bind the imps to the chips. Be very careful with circuits. If you scratch off even the tiniest bit of the runes, the spell will be broken, and the imp will escape. Also note the serial and part numbers printed on the boards. These identify exactly what sort of evil spirit it is, in case you ever have to order a replacement from the factory
http://james.hamsterrepublic.com/technomancy/
Fenestredigitation does happen and Voodoo Debugging does work
...I wonder if they ever thought of making a pocket witch?
The witch computer deserves the greatest of respect.
If you open a modern computer and carelessly touch the internals you may bring death to the computer.
If you open an old computer with Dekatrons and touch the internals then death comes to you - the logic used something like 300 volt D.C. power supplies.
About 50 years ago I spent a few weeks building and operating accelerated life test rigs for Dekatrons in the Quality Control laboratories of a manufacturer,
and at the time considered them quite tame in comparison with the old televisions with multi-kilovolt supplies that could hold their charge for days after being disconnected from the mains.
Alan you should write a book
And then when you read about this here it is almost impossible to believe that it only happened 19 yesrs ago
Word got out, and before long millions of tech enthusiasts from around the world were accessing images of the Trojan room coffee pot.
Dr Stafford-Fraser remembers receiving emails from Japan asking if a light could be left on overnight so that the pot could be seen in different time zones.
Alan you should write a book
He just did...