A mechanical computer uses mechanical parts instead of electricity and is powered by the user through a crank. It was commonly used for calculations, navigation, and warfare before the advent of electronic computers. It cannot perform processes automatically but is still used today for functional purposes.
A mechanical computer is a computer that, instead of running on electricity and electrical parts, uses mechanical parts. Unlike electronic computers, which run on electricity on their own, a mechanical computer draws power from an external source: the user. To use this computer, the operator must continuously pump a crank, perhaps thousands of times, to perform a calculation. This computer is often considered to be the first stage of the modern computer and was mainly used until the late 1940s, although there have been some uses since then. While this computer had many different uses, it was commonly used for calculations, navigation, and with missiles and torpedoes during warfare.
When someone mentions a computer, they are often talking about an electronic computer that runs on electricity and contains many chips and circuits. In contrast, a mechanical computer is based on mechanical parts. Common parts include gears, screws, pulleys and levers, with the levers being perhaps one of the most memorable parts due to the loud noise made when the operators pull them. Even after the advent of electronic computers, this computer was still built with mechanical parts in keeping with the design aesthetics and benefits of using mechanical parts, such as substantially lower power requirements and better durability.
A mechanical computer has no electrical power, so it relies on the user to provide power. This is most commonly done through the constant flick and bang of a lever, which moves the mechanical parts. Simple calculations can be done with several pulls of the lever, while complex equations can take thousands.
In the list of pre-electronic computing devices, the mechanical computer is often considered the first device that appeared and functioned like the modern computer. Besides using different parts, another major difference between a mechanical and an electronic computer is that the mechanical one cannot perform processes without human interaction, while the electronic computer can perform processes automatically. This computer was primarily used during the 1940s during World War II but continued to be used thereafter.
As with most computers, the mechanical computer has many different operations and uses. Perhaps most famous is as a calculator and stock ticker, both of which have functions that can be calculated more quickly by a machine than by a human. This computer was also used for navigation of ships, missiles and torpedoes. Hobbyists sometimes make this computer, either for fun or for functional uses.
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