Long Before the BASIC Stamp

erco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLPVCJjTNgk&feature=player_embedded

was the Greek Antikythera mechanism, a mechanical computer to predict eclipses & such. ~100 BC, reproduced here with 1500 Lego pieces. Makes the proud father in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" even prouder !

Martin_H

Erco, that was a cool video.

You can build amazing stuff out of Lego Technic, but the Lego company doesn't make it easy at times. They don't sell all the parts

skylight

Perhaps Charles Babbage shouldn't be credited with inventing computers after all?

electrosys

Really cool, where the world will be with out the nerds!?

Humanoido

Or you can go modern with legos and build a computer.

http://www.alwayswow.com/archive/2005/09/lego_computer.html

or stay retro with a
Babbage Difference Engine made with LEGO

skylight

I wonder how they manage to keep the lego bricks together given all the gearing and torque, perhaps they glue them together?

erco

The blocks are generally MEK'ed together for strength in mechanisms and large displays per this article: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1991/01/14/1991_01_14_024_TNY_CARDS_000357380

skylight

Thought it had to be something like that, thanks for the article erco

Martin_H

The computer in the first post was made out of Technic beams. They hold together much better than bricks and fail more gracefully.