An analog computer is a computation machine that uses physical phenomena, such as electrical, mechanical or hydraulic quantities behaving according to the mathematical principles of the problem at hand, to model that problem directly. This sets analog computing apart from digital computing, where a digital computer represents varying quantities symbolically, using discrete values of both time and amplitude, rather than through a continuously varying physical quantity.
Facts
Disputed
Origin YearMarks an early purpose-built analog calculating device; the Antikythera mechanism is far older but was not part of a continuous engineering tradition. Core ConcernUsing continuously varying physical quantities, such as electrical voltage or mechanical rotation, to model and solve a problem rather than representing it in discrete digital form. 1 Connections
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Analog computers
Wikimedia FoundationHistory section, paragraph on the tide-predicting machine
the tide-predicting machine invented by Sir William Thomson in 1872 was of great utility to navigation in shallow waters.
Lead paragraph, first sentence
An analog computer or analogue computer is a type of computation machine (computer) that uses physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities behaving according to the mathematical principles in question (analog signals) to model the problem being solved.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.