K.C. has the oldest piece of computer hardware I’ve ever seen–a modem from 1964-5, complete with finely crafted wooden case. It’s got a good 20 years on me, and it still works. The story goes like this: Background: This modem was given to me ~1989 by the widow of a retired (IBM?) engineer. Computerhistory.org has […]
Reader Mike Schropp sent in some pics of the CPU folding farm he built, complete with custom Lego case. As cool as having a Lego case is, though, the real purpose of the build is even better: Around the time I began my planning I beginning to be involved in Grid Computing. I liked being […]
Wellesley College student designer Wendy Chen created this circuit board and lace frock for the Davis Design Contest; the first-place winner is a vintage lace dress embellished with key caps and motherboards, a combination the artist says “weaves together the old and the new, reflecting hope for a harmonious union between humanity and technology.” [source […]
We’ve written several pieces about computer technology of the 80s and early 90s before and clearly struck a nostalgic chord with many readers of a certain age (and those with a historical curiosity.) With that in mind, we’ve found a site that you are sure to love. The Obsolete Technology Website at oldcomputers.net includes a […]
Haven’t heard about the ChromeBook yet? Here’s a fun and informative video that will teach you everything you need to know about the new Chrome OS-powered laptops. Samsung Series 5 Wi-Fi Chromebook Samsung Series 5 3G Chromebook
In my latest visit to the world’s greatest place, Bookbarn (literally a warehouse full of books, currently at £1 — approximately US$1.60 — each), I picked up a book from 1983 that I distinctly remember reading as a child: The Beginner’s Computer Handbook. Looking back brings some amusement at the technology of the time, but […]
In the following video, Bill Hammock, the Engineer Guy, explains everything there is to know about a hard drive by tearing one apart to show us the role of each of its components. This is by far the best explanation I’ve heard on how hard drives work. Check it out:
Microsoft has announced a voice control feature for its Kinect motion control system in an apparent attempt to appeal to serious gamers. Speaking at the E3 expo in Los Angeles, the company revealed that Kinect will be supported by several upcoming games aimed more at traditional players than the casual audience targeted in the initial […]
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The first D-Wave One, a commercially available 128-qubit quantum computer, has been sold to Lockheed Martin. The agreement between Lockheed Martin and D-Wave Systems was announced this week. If you have a spare ten million bucks in your sofa cushions, you too can own the D-Wave One. Rather than relying on transistors and classical mechanics, […]