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

engineerguy · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Mechanical & precision engineeringInformation theory & signal processingHistory of computing

What it is

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.

Why Hacker News recommends it

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

  • 6 people recommended it
  • 6 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2015, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “If you haven't watched all of Bill's videos, you should put them on your list right right now.”

    Series on a century-old device that mechanically performs Fourier transforms.

    JshWright, 2018-02 · Strong recommendation · in “The Engineering of the Drinking Bird Toy [video]”

  2. “There is a series of four fantastic videos”

    Series about Michelson's Harmonic Analyzer.

    amatic, 2021-12 · Strong recommendation · in “Analog computers were the most powerful computers for thousands of years [video]”

  3. “I bet you would enjoy Bill Hammack's series explaining how a 100 year old mechanical harmonic analyzer works.”

    Explains how a 100-year-old mechanical harmonic analyzer works.

    Quequau, 2018-08 · Recommendation · in “Tide-Predicting Machine No. 2”

  4. “if you're into this sort of thing here's the first in a seven video series”

    Series on Michelson's mechanical Fourier-analysis harmonic analyzer.

    _edo, 2019-09 · Recommendation · in “UCLA’s 1948 Mechanical Computer [video]”

  5. “Although it is multiple parts, each one is very short.”

    Short episodes on a mechanical Fourier synthesizer and analyzer.

    tasty_freeze, 2021-09 · Recommendation · in “Fourier Series Visualisation with D3”

  6. “If not here it is it's a great watch.”

    Series showing a Fourier analysis machine.

    dghughes, 2023-01 · Recommendation · in “The Fourier Transform, explained in one sentence”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: fourier series, harmonic analyzer, analog computer, bill hammack, michelson

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