Posts by Shindles

Escape from The National Museum of Computing

Re: BBC micro

The programming on the Beeb is in BASIC not assembler so everyone will be able to cope with the challenges.

Escape Room Challenges

The 1940s challenge involves punched cards.

By the way the maths involved in all challenges is not that difficult.

ALGOL 60 at 60: The greatest computer language you've never used and grandaddy of the programming family tree

Re: Facebook simply would not exist today if not for Bletchley Park

Apart from Colossus Bletchley Park had nothing to do with electronic digital computers. All data analysis was done on Hollerith-type card machines.

Actually Britain was far ahead of the US in developing commercial computers. Just look at the history of LEO. Britain also pioneered practical computers such as EDSAC which is the forerunner for all today's computers and can bee seen at the National Museum of Computer, located on the Bletchley Park Estate. Spend 3 hours there and see the Harwell Dekatron - the world's oldest original working computer.

While there see a working Enigma/Bombe and the Lorenz/Colossus.

My advice is to see TNMoC first then another pop down to Bletchley Park for a brief tour to see the Mansion and other interesting facts about their role in the the second world war.

1965

Having done my degree at Woolwich Polytechnic (Tommy Flowers was there long before me!) from 1965 onwards while working as a rocket scientist at the MoD, I was one of the early progammers who never actually went in to the computer room where the program was run. I simply submitted my Algol programs on coding sheets which would be run and sent back. I did occasionally see the computer through a window!

I then taught Algol at Braintree college on an Elliott 803.

Nothing compares with MIRFAC, probably the most sophisticed language ever running on the MoD's COSMOS computer though. Simon Lavington reviews this machine.

El Reg visits two shrines to computing history as the UK lifts coronavirus lockdown

Re: That 'scope ...

Elliott with 2 Ts. Been a technical editor for 30 years so can't help myself!

'Facebook simply would not exist today if not for Bletchley Park,' says social network – but don't hold that against it

Re: Generous Landlord

I bet you £50 they won't. They have never got over the fact that TNMOC have a working Colossus. They even chucked out the working Turing-Welchman Bombe. They frittered away their lottery grant on "disnification" projects and large salaries. BP Trust pay their landlords a peppercorn rent and charge TNMOC around £60k pa rent. I'm sure charities are not supposed to profit form another charity!

Re: Facebook simply would not exist today if not for Bletchley Park

LEO was based on EDSAC which was based at Cambridge (UK).

Re: Facebook simply would not exist today if not for Bletchley Park

Do pop into The National Museum of Computing on Bletchley Park estate to see working Elliott computers.

By the way The National Museum of Computing is NOT a beneficiary of Facebook's donation, they gave it to Bletchley Park which doesn't even have a working Colossus!

Re: Facebook simply would not exist today if not for Bletchley Park

Actually Britain was far ahead of the US in developing commercial computers. Just look at the history of LEO. Britain also pioneered practical computers such as EDSAC which is the forerunner for all today's computers.

National Museum of Computing rattles the bucket: Help shift war-winning proto-puter

You can visit TNMOC separately, no need to pay Bletchley Park. Simply tell them at the gate you are visiting TNMOC. Open from 12 noon on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. http://tnmoc.org

Trouble is that the rebuilt Colossus is situated EXACTLY where Colossus number 9 was, so it is historically important/relevant for it to be in H-Block.

Why the funding is needed

Funding is needed to refurbish the areas where the Bombe is to be placed. This is expensive because listed building consent is needed and extra space required. To move the Bombe is also expensive. TNMOC is manned by unpaid volunteers but builders have to be employed.

Have a go with this WW2 German Lorenz cipher machine – in your browser

Misunderstandings

What I gather from the posts is that most people have an incomplete understanding of Enigma and Lorenz. Can I suggest that a visit to The National Museum of Computing would help clarify the differences and the roles of Turing, Tutte, Newman, Tester and other key players, and also the use of the Bombe and Colossus.