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Sneak Preview - a New Prop Computer

13

Comments

  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2010-01-19 10:39
    Yeah Phil, we can be mongrels sometimes, but we certainly are not apathetic or passive lurkers. If someone wants to dangle from the branches shouting "look at me, look at me" then we won't just politely pretend not to notice, we will look and let him know he is being a "galah"

    I think it's a sign of a healthy "interactive" forum anyway and I haven't seen anybody get nasty yet (which is not acceptable anytime), although I did get someone ....hum.....anoid smile.gif

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  • heaterheater Posts: 3,370
    edited 2010-01-19 11:16
    OK I can't resist it anymore, this is for Humanoido:
    The Bonzo Dog Band said...

    Hi there!
    Some people say it with flowers,
    Some people say it at Lloyds,
    But you don't find many tryin' to say it with humanoids

    Well, the Humanoid Boogie's got the humanoid hip-types
    Jumpin' and-a jivin'
    Burnin' out their energy cells like an infrared hot dog
    Motorbike heart beats flutter to the stutter
    Of the humanoid heart-throb sobbin' out a tickertape tune
    By the light of the moon
    Bleep bleep keep rockin' daddy, do the stroll
    Because the Humanoid Boogie's full of humanoid rock and roll

    Mad Dan Sugar Man and Henrietta Holocaust
    Introduce to you what's new on the humanoid scene
    It's a wow, it's a scream
    Knick knack paddywack, give a dog a humanoid
    Let's have fun, gonna get a personality cell
    If all goes well
    Bleep bleep keep rockin' daddy, catch the power!
    Because the Humanoid Boogie's been requested on Two-way Humanoid Hour

    Oh bay-bee!

    Some people say it with flowers, some people say it at Lloyds
    But you don't find many tryin' to say it with humanoids

    (Aaah aaah aaah aaah)

    Well,
    The Humanoid Boogie's gonna get to number one in the
    Char char char char charts voted by the
    People eople eople eople eople eople of the record-buying publicoid
    Programmed to a multiple response ratio
    It's a wow, it's a gas, it's a Wall Street Crash
    Like cigar ash
    Bleep bleep keep rockin' daddy, do the stroll!!!
    Because the Humanoid Boogie's full of humanoid rock and roll!!!

    Oh yeahhhhh!!!

    Keep on rockin' Humanoido!

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  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2010-01-19 14:14
    humanoido said...
    Peter Jakacki said...
    but if I didn't provide some more to go on then people would think I've OD'd on meds or I've been smoking "those" mushrooms. If indeed the "completely new computer" is a plastic box complete with 21 holes and a boiler plate, driven by a Propeller chip then it is truly wonderful and I'm sure everybody would agree....if you were only 10 years old that is.
    Jacko: This level of sarcasm is enough. The point was made at the beginning - this is simply a fun mystery thread. BTW, cross posting is against forum rules. Start your own thread about printers and labels elsewhere.

    humanoido

    cross posting is posting stuff across several forums.
  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2010-01-19 14:26
    humanoido said...

    Which object did you write?
    What features do you like about the box?
    You must be joking - there is no sales pitch, or hype.
    It's not for sale, and every comment is accurate.
    So exactly what are you referring to?
    humanoido

    1. You will find out when it is finished and on Obex, no mystery just don't want to get peoples hopes up and have added pressure while I am so busy.
    2. Looks nice, I like the old school font. Innards look messy but hard to say with so few pixels.
    3. I put sales in quotations because I did not mean it was literally a pitch but rather that it sounds like one. I am fairly sure there is hype, unless there is something seriously amazing in that box it cannot live up to the language used to describe it. I also used past experience, if I look at your 3D computing thread for example and compare what it was to how it was described there is a disparity.
    4. What am I referring to, see Peter's comment. I can say I am amongst the top volley ball players in the country and although it is accurate I do not state the range I am referring to, I am perhaps in the top million but there may only be a million.

    So I guess I am saying that it is not so much the letter of what you say but the spirit.
  • BradCBradC Posts: 2,601
    edited 2010-01-19 14:34
    Graham Stabler said...
    I can say I am amongst the top volley ball players in the country and although it is accurate I do not state the range I am referring to, I am perhaps in the top million but there may only be a million.

    Oh, now THAT is *gold*! Really made my night. I'll have to file that away for the next time someone asks me how good I am at (X). [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    On the topic of the thread, I was most amused when it was revealed it would run some of the PE labs and some of the code posted on the forum with modification. It's based around a Propeller. There really are not that many variations of the chip. In fact, I can count them without using my hands *or* my feet!

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  • AleAle Posts: 2,363
    edited 2010-01-19 16:51
    BradC said...
    There really are not that many variations of the chip. In fact, I can count them without using my hands *or* my feet!

    We know you are referring to your... nose!. lol.gif

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  • simonlsimonl Posts: 866
    edited 2010-01-19 22:00
    @humanoido: Please don't take offense. I followed your "Basic Stamp SuperComputer" thread with interest, so I know you're capable of wonderful things. I just find the approach you're taking here a little odd. I guess it's just not to my taste, but I will keep lurking; waiting for the great revelation smile.gif

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  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:52
    reserved for comments 1
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
    My advice to anyone who wants to present a project here is to play to the audience that fills the auditorium, not to the more refined and patiently expectant crowd you wish had bought tickets

    Last night, while doing the “Humanoid Boogie” to the tune of Bonzo Dog Band (thanks heater!), I got this idea. Let's finish up the thread with the posting of the project's material at a level that we can all understand. I mean if the object is to play to the level of the audience, then let's present this material in a light that's being requested and play.

    Big projects photos will follow.

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 6:50:44 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:52
    reserved 2 for comments

    There is a vote of approximately 3 that agree with Phil (including Phil) who believe there is no audience here for this presentation, but there are over 4,000 thread views. Not everyone has chimed in. Three is not an accurate representation of 4,000. What is the vote of others?

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 7:21:20 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:53
    reserved 3

    It takes considerable thought, work, resources, time, energy, effort, money, etc. to create an interesting and useful Prop project. For some of us, it is even more challenging to design the circuits, build the prototype, do the testing, debugging, trouble-shooting, writing some strange new code that demands incredible attention, developing useful applications and cross platform abilities, and so on... It is far more simple to post nothing and enjoy your own project. Right?

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 7:23:04 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:53
    reserved 4

    Why create detailed assembly instructions over months, and post the results into the wild blue sky? Why take time consuming photos along the path of construction documenting step by step to benefit only the blank air waves? Why go through all the trouble and effort to design schematics of revealing nature when they are always met with a plethora of sarcastically negative comments? What is the personal gain of possibly having a project and your unknown character sarcastically slandered lower than the dust of the earth?

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 7:25:10 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:53
    5

    Personally I welcome constructive criticism but it requires an expensive set of prospecting detection equipment to find such... but as Phil said, I am not playing to a typical audience. This is the audience with free tickets, front seat rows, nothing to do or lose while hiding faces behind indiscriminate avatars, and why should this audience gain anything more than a freebie joke or two, to comply with the field-equaled level of dis-appreciation?

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 7:26:43 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:54
    6

    If you have any thoughts about why you should have the benefits of someone else's labor and revelations with a new Prop project, free, in exchange for a barrage of nonconstructive negative comments, feel free to air your reasons.

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 7:27:56 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:54
    7

    Hypothetically speaking, in a more base language, if you created a project, and were told something approximately like you and your project suck and equal nothing but hype, or if posted words had such implications, how much incentive would you have to post your free project results and details? And if you did decide to post your project, how could you be assured there were enough "silent" votes to justify your actions?

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 7:31:54 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:54
    Someone said post the correct material to the correct
    audience’s intelligence level, or lack thereof. So here goes…
    (on the lighter side, with tongue in cheek) I completed the
    project and will be sending it to you, freight collect.

    By now you have guessed it’s a cool retro project – a one
    propeller chip Eniac computer. I must admit, I had some help
    from a team of Prop Forum members who were off-topic
    posting in this thread while sipping late night brewskies
    and admittedly smoking mushrooms, but they pulled through
    in various states of mental decapitation.

    I must give credit where credit is due. Below are some credits.
    Note, to my knowledge no photos were uploaded, copied,
    photoshopped or mutilated.

    eniac-2.jpg

    I built this first prop computer in my garage. The car sets
    outside in the snow. Note the simplified boiler-plate face,
    created with a paper punch, chewing gum adhesive, and
    a sledge hammer. This section of the computer runs on a
    steam engine. It’s always good to vent when the pressure
    builds up.

    eniac.jpg

    Here I’m running final wiring checks on the back panel
    (back of the box you saw earlier) of the completed project,
    and preparing to enter the project into the 2010 Prop contest.
    The dazed look comes from thinking about how to wrap and ship
    it to Chip Gracey’s living room with a Toyota Runabout (it will
    have to go on top). Note the neatness of the wiring, bubble-wrap,
    and minimal use of snorkle flux.

    eniac3.jpg
    All circuits were certified by Ken Gracey, bit by bit.
    If you haven’t heard from Ken in the past year and a half,
    now you know why.


    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 11:58:36 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:54
    9

    _44233920_eniac_spl_416.jpg
    Oldbitcollector hired these woman when he was
    guzzling beer, to run a program to add two numbers.
    But part of the circuit was not complete and it was only
    a half adder, adding half of two numbers, i.e. it added
    only one number. Note that Jill is the one looking for
    the power cord…

    eniac.gif
    Peter Jakacki, Leon and Mike_GTN created this magnificent
    outwork using only a totally screwed driver, a bloody mary,
    a half rad nad, and a #4 golf driving iron. After they
    finished the unit, everyone realized they forgot what it does.

    eniac1.jpg
    Graham Stabler visited the lab and inspected the lights -
    he waited 2 weeks for the number 4,974,384,569 light to
    come on. No one told him the battery was missing. This is
    why he has no $#@*!*& patience.

    ENIAC.jpg
    The new girl, hired by Oldbitcollector, checks the position
    of each switch, while localroger “with the wicked chain”
    checks the position of the new girl.

    1946-eniac-03-large.gif
    Friday was the peripheral day - a real mouse installed itself.
    We could hear it moving within the depths of Pandora!
    stevenmess2004 (squatting) checks the computer’s scratching
    sound, while Oldbitcollector is collecting another girl.

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 12:52:04 PM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 04:55
    reserved 10

    08-ENIAC.gif
    Closeup of the box. These switches are connected to wires
    using a solderless breadboard. Chuckz and simonl passed a
    loaf of bread to Gadgetman and localroger to insert into the
    back panel and connect to the breadboard. Nightwing had to
    explain, don’t do that. It will encourage the mice.

    eniac4.jpg
    Oldbitcollector kept hiring more girls.
    This is the first Speech program.
    Girl number two is speaking the code to girl 1.

    11-Univac-delay-line.gif
    JonnyMac built this 1-bit memory, about the size of a
    diesel tractor engine. After he finished it, he forgot
    where he put the keys. It runs on Micky D’s hamburgers
    inserted next to the Flux Capacitor, and raw chicken oil
    juiced in a juicer built by Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) on his chicken farm.
    Phil has a way with chickens. Phil !!! Oh that's just wrong!!!

    turk-engraving.jpg
    punch_card.jpg
    Someone said this is Peter Jakacki smoking his mushroom pipe.
    Under his "slight of hand" is his latest Sly-game-machine.
    Designed to be full of tricks, it never worked
    properly and he had more luck playing alone.
    Finally in desperation, he submitted
    his latest idea, a plugged hole domino
    designed for losers.

    12C-Vacuum-tubes.gif
    Heater fell into this rack of spud tubulars and was loudly
    heard humming the “Humanoid Jingle,” but we could not
    find him for two days! When we did find him, he had imprints
    of heated vacuum tube rows on his back and lower two crenzels!
    Ouch! Oh! That’s where his name came from…

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 12:07:15 PM GMT
  • BradCBradC Posts: 2,601
    edited 2010-01-21 05:24
    11. We have liftoff

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  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2010-01-21 06:16
    All is about to be revealed? *holds breath*...*starts to go a bit blue*...

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  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 06:50
    11

    14-SAGE-console.gif
    MagIO2 designed the microminiature display using left over beer can labels,
    a pneumatic bed pan, empty toilet paper rolls and several man-covered-holes.
    The foreground electric chair is an accessory.

    abaco.jpg
    Intended for this project as a prop support coprocessor,
    Peter Jakacki's wood and paper-clip crafted project was rejected.
    He then submitted it to Star Trek as a warp
    drive dilythium crystal regenerator. It may be the reason Star Trek
    has remained in Dry Dock for some years!

    09-Johnniac.gif
    CassLan demonstrated his amazing genius talent when he assembled
    this contributed printer made from a recycled typewriter and a “wall-sized
    interface card.” Overall it weighs 140 tons and draws a mere 250,000 kilowatts.
    Unfortunately, BradC and his committed EX-wife had it recycled for the value
    of lead-weight before we could use it.

    eniac.jpg
    The 2nd program was entered through this fronted panel.
    Mctrivia, seen in the front, put in instruction codes. Unfortunately,
    Shmoopy, seen in the back, pulled out the instruction codes. Gadgetman
    spent months debugging this problem. He was last seen pulling out the
    last hair on his bald cranium while looking for any sanity.

    23-IBM-360-91.gif
    Finally, this portable computer version was built with help from Chris D,
    and placed on four wheels. Unfortunately Ale pointed out, it won’t
    fit through the door.

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 11:38:00 AM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 08:27
    12

    ExplorePAHistory-a0h7g3-a_349.jpg
    This is the LED display. To save money, Chuckz suggested using
    recycled JUMBO JET LEDs for this panel, so the project could "get
    off the ground." It was his fault the unit reached Mach 121,317 and
    broke the dork barrier. It was last seen as a qualifier for the
    Google Moon project.

    _ENIAC.JPG
    When the cat is away, the mice will play.
    Counterclockwise, MagIO2 (wearing the dress),
    Brad C (playing with the switch - up down, up down, up down........),
    Peter Jakacki (cross dressing, again!!!),
    ChrisD (upper left) performing calculus AND
    differential equations in his mind (what a genius!!!)
    JonnyMac (looking spaced like he's alice in wonderland
    and wearing too-tight underwear shorts)
    and Leon giving the finger.

    Two_women_operating_ENIAC.gif
    Oldbitcollector imported the only two woman from the University
    majoring in “Oh My Head SPINS Programming.” These mystic
    cryptic moguls had no problem deciphering codes meant for
    guru mongrels. When they finished, Oldbitcollector was
    wearing a smile on his face.

    bombe-turing.jpg
    This WAC flew in to calibrate the disc covers. As she
    opened each one, snickers candy bars and woman's underwear fell out!
    This time we're going to penalize Graham Stabler for hiding all his stash.
    Several lashings with a limp wet noodle was suggested.

    ENIAC_Image_1.jpg
    The Army Core of Engineers was called in to run checks.
    Only substitute personnel were available. Simon1, on the left,
    says, “if there’s a Prop chip in there somewhere, I can’t find it…”
    and localroger, squatting at right, says, “what’ll happen if I turn this one?”

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/21/2010 12:32:16 PM GMT
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-01-21 09:11
    ENIAC02.jpg
    Ready for programming, the completed project was finessed by
    nightwing who did a magnificent job of programming using
    these switches. Later he appeared on the show, "SPIN That Dial"
    and received a large cash award for his multiplicity of talent.
    Note how he can multitask by programming two knobs at the
    same time. This was the first multi-tasking software.

    Well, there you have it.
    Project posted in its entirety.
    Maybe it's not what you expected.
    It's not what I expected.
    But sometimes you have to modify the game rules
    to keep the locals happy.
    Pass the popcorn.

    humanoido

    "You cannot solve a problem on the same level that it was created.
    You must rise above it to the next level." --Albert Einstein


    Post Edited (humanoido) : 1/22/2010 5:32:57 AM GMT
  • AleAle Posts: 2,363
    edited 2010-01-21 09:57
    I can't stop laughing... lol.gif

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    pPropQL: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL
    pPropQL020: propeller.wikispaces.com/pPropQL020
    OMU for the pPropQL/020 propeller.wikispaces.com/OMU
  • heaterheater Posts: 3,370
    edited 2010-01-21 10:10
    Fantastic!

    By the way that is where the name "Heater" comes from.

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  • simonlsimonl Posts: 866
    edited 2010-01-21 13:22
    Time to get off the mushrooms humandoido - LOL

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    Simon

    www.norfolkhelicopterclub.com

    Announcement: To cut costs in the current economic climate, we have switched-off the light at the end of the tunnel.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2010-01-21 16:44
    Gadgetman spent months debugging this problem. He was last seen pulling out the
    last hair on his bald cranium while looking for any sanity.

    Eh, no...

    I don't debug other people's code.
    (Unless it's code pulled from the ROM of a vintage Z80-based computer)

    And my hair is also fine...
    It's a bit shorter than usual(not touching my shoulders at the moment.) but it's still lush up there. ;-)

    And my sanity tookl eave of absence years ago...
    (Which is just as well, as this thread would have flipped me over completely if not)

    BTW: Do NOT use the label 'MC Computer' unless it can top my 1989 vintage MC400 laptop.

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  • Rob7Rob7 Posts: 275
    edited 2010-01-21 18:17
    Humanoido,
    "I love all the great Pic's".
    I takes me back to the great old days !
    Keep them comeing ! :
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2010-01-21 18:28
    Great pictures. A mentor of mine worked at Princeton as a graduate assistant in the lab where they had one of the early Williams tube memory computers. His job was to sit there watching the bank of tubes for a bloom in the phosphor indicating that there was a programming error and there were repeated reads going on at a single location. If this happened, he had to push the Stop button immediately. Usually this was due to forgetting to increment the program counter (controlled by a bit in the instruction). Too many successive reads to the same location would burn a hole in the phosphor coating and that location would have some "stuck" bits from then on. There was a map on the wall showing all such defects so programmers could program around them.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-01-21 19:45
    mystery_science_theater1.jpg

    mystery_science_theater2.jpg

    Now ... what does that box do? smile.gif

    -Phil
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-01-22 01:13
    Nice photos and commentary smile.gif

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