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    (1/4) Intro/History: Introducing a 100-year-old mechanical computer

    engineerguy

    6 HN recommenders · recommended in 8 months, 2015–2023

    YouTube

    3:39 · 476K views · Nov 11, 2014

    The first of four short videos from Bill Hammack (engineerguy) introducing and giving the history of a 100-year-old mechanical computer, Michelson's harmonic analyzer. The series goes on to explain Fourier synthesis, analysis and operation of the machine.

    Commenters recommend the series whenever Fourier analysis or analog computing comes up, praising Hammack's clear explanations and the short episodes.

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    8 comments from Hacker News

    1. @JshWrightFeb 2018· in “The Engineering of the Drinking Bird Toy [video]”

      If you haven't watched all of Bill's videos, you should put them on your list right right now. His early stuff was a great mixture of goofy humor and fascinating explanations of the engineering behind various everyday objects. His more recent stuff has (unfortunately, in my opinion) dropped most of the comedy, but really stepped up the overall quality. Some highlights: His series on Faraday's Chemical History of a Candle lectures: [LINK] His series on Albert Michelson’s Harmonic Analyzer (a century old device that can mechanically perform Fourier transforms) this video I'd also really recommend his book on R101, the last great British airship. [LINK]

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    2. @amaticDec 2021· in “Analog computers were the most powerful computers for thousands of years [video]”

      There is a series of four fantastic videos about a successor to Thompson's tidal analyzer - the Michaelson's Harmonic Analyzer; here is the first video: this video

      Strongly recommendsView on HN
    3. @tasty_freezeSep 2021· in “Fourier Series Visualisation with D3”

      If you like this, you might also like Bill Hammack's series on a mechanical version of a fourier synthesizer (OK) and analyzer (wow!). Although it is multiple parts, each one is very short. this video As a side note, the guy who designed it was Michelson, famous for the Michaelson/Morley experiment that disproved the existence of the luminiferous ether.

      RecommendsView on HN
    4. @_edoSep 2019· in “UCLA’s 1948 Mechanical Computer [video]”

      Very cool. Also, if you're into this sort of thing here's the first in a seven video series on a very different mechanical computer - Albert Michelson's Harmonic Analyzer which does Fourier Analysis: this video

      RecommendsView on HN
    5. @QuequauAug 2018· in “Tide-Predicting Machine No. 2”

      It's not in use today but if you haven't already seen it, I bet you would enjoy Bill Hammack's series explaining how a 100 year old mechanical harmonic analyzer works. this video

      RecommendsView on HN