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Stephen wrote:There seems to be a great deal of enthusiasm for recording and reproducing NBTV signals by mechanical means: hence the Edikow. With the popularity of generating images for NBTV by means of a computer there should be a similar level of interest in generating images for mechanical NBTV systems by means of a mechanical computer.
This is very interesting. A scanning disc could be behind such a pin array, wherein a tiny electromagnet would replace each aperture in the disc. Each electromagnet would pull or repel a different pin a certain distance at each instance during the scanning cycle.Viewmaster wrote:The picture storage in pins. Read each one in depth for NBTV output.
Stephen wrote:This is very interesting. A scanning disc could be behind such a pin array, wherein a tiny electromagnet would replace each aperture in the disc. Each electromagnet would pull or repel a different pin a certain distance at each instance during the scanning cycle.Viewmaster wrote:The picture storage in pins. Read each one in depth for NBTV output.
I was really hoping that I could someday replace my AMD 64 X2 Dual-Core processor-powered PC with a steam-powered one and a gaslight-lit mechanical display. Oh well.DrZarkov wrote:Even a C 64 or a Sinclair Spectrum would be much too slow. Maybe it is possible to generate simple testcards by a mechanical computer. Maybe it's even possible to make a mechanical "Pong" game for use with a televisor. That's all I'm afraid.
Stephen wrote:Let us consider a a mechanical computer coupled to a totally non-electric TV system. Referring to the diagram, each gas restrictor valve has twice the gas output of the one to its right. The mechanical computer would activate any combination of the three plunger valves to change the gas flow from nought to 7X, a total of eight levels. The gaslight would then respond in brightness to the changing gas flow in synchronisation with the scanning disc. An extra restrictor valve set to 8X flow with an associated plunger valve would provide a total of 16 levels.
It may be true that the increase in brightness would not be proportional; that might be built-in gamma correction.DrZarkov wrote:I think the problem is, that the flame will become bigger, but not brighter. If reaction is fast enough...
This is not so crazy. Imagine that a cam shaft, or a bank of coupled camshafts, have a contoured surface that changes the height of each fountain as its respective camshaft rubs against a plunger-operated valve for the fountain. The array of fountains would then change in pattern and profile as the camshafts revolve. Each fountain could have a light source at its base to light the fountain. Each light source could be modulated in intensity and colour as well. This could be a programmed 3-D colour moving picture display!Viewmaster wrote:This is not really NBTV but let's go crazy....
.....imagine 32 rows of water fountains, each row having 48 fountains in it.
They are all running under various water pressures to each of the 1536 fountains.
A painter or sculptor, watching from a helicopter, looking down on them at an angle, adjusts the pressure on each via radio to someone on the ground adjusting the water valves.
Imagine what an amazing 3D picture he would see as he built up the various heights of the water as the sun set on them at an angle.
Not a movie but a still moving picture in water.....now someone suggest putting water jets on a Nipkow!!
...end of crazyness.
DrZarkov wrote:As a video source I suggest a giant Edikow, with a 2 meter diameter and 5 meter long marble cylinder (groves made by a computer program), driven by water. That would be a real television monument, maybe for a new park at the location of Alexandra Palace if nothing will happen to conserve the building...
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