Ben A L Jemmett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>>(I am told, however, that early space shuttles used core-memory
>>computers. I don't know this for a fact, but it's an... intriguing...
>>claim.)
>Yes... The one which blew up (I can never remember which it was - Challenger
>or Endeavour?) and the others of it's time had three core-memory computers,
>each running identical software with identical inputs. In the event that one
>came up with a different answer than the others it would be automatically
>switched off. If the remaining two started to disagree, a fourth machine
would
>be powered up. This is information gleaned from Richard Feynman's
experiences
>of investigating the disaster, as recounted in the book 'What do *you* care
>what other people think?'.
Yes -- that's where I picked that tidbit up! But I can never tell when
Mr. Feynman is joking.
I also recall him describing the *original* Survivor PCs, the great
electromechanical brutes used during World War II. Feynman was one
of the first to identify the "computer disease." Men exposed to
computers would spend more and more of their time writing programs to
extract cube roots or play Tic-Tac-Toe ... while letting the serious
business of the Manhattan Project slide. A real American original,
Dick Feynman.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message.
Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies.
