Mechanical calculator

A binary calculator using only marbles and wood. More information here.

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+11 1. jwn commented 12 years ago

That's a little harsh majlo. Sure, it has little practical use, but it would be a great learning tool for Computer Science fundamentals. Seeing an abstract concept (binary math) brought to something physical could ease the learning curve.
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+7 2. renthgil commented 12 years ago

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+14 3. dave9191 commented 12 years ago

That is sooooo freaking cool. I wouldnt mind that in my office for the hell of it.
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-7 4. Vintage4life commented 12 years ago

As Cartman would say: LAAAAAAAMEEE!!!!
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-2 5. wtfysc commented 12 years ago

Looks cool, but I have no idea what it all means.
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+4 6. Petra commented 12 years ago

This thing is AWESOME! Now I understand why 64 bit machines are sooooooooooooooo special.
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+6 7. BombDiggady commented 12 years ago

That is really quiet interesting!
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-6 8. zerorain commented 12 years ago

wow i cant believe a tree died for that.... :'(
:| :| :| :|
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+4 9. Aliquantulus commented 12 years ago

Where can I buy one?

And to all you fuckers saying this is unpractical, get a fucking degree or get my fries! Your choice.. >:)
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+1 10. totalheresy commented 12 years ago

Aliquantulus is right. People who don't understand what this is are flipping burgers and dealing with irate customers. I understand this, I also understand software engineering, and I'm making damn good money too :D
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+3 11. jayjay101 commented 12 years ago

but can it subtract?
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-6 12. spook24 commented 12 years ago

theres a thing called a computer that can do that for you. what year are you living in? 1607? 1558? 5 B.C.?
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+3 13. itsSimple7 commented 12 years ago

This is most likely a model to show people how a computer works. A computer only works in binary, and addition and multiplication are carried out in this manor within the computer in an electronic circuit.
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+5 14. Duuude commented 12 years ago


He say's it's an adding machine, but in the end, he has to add numbers together to get to the final answer.

It's an accumulator, not an adding machine. He calls it a "result state" which...

Sure, if you happen to know that all the "bits" to the right of the last bit, are the next bit - 1, then it's easy to know that 11111 = 31. But if you had to add 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = (unclear by inspection)

= waste of time.
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+1 15. hellfish commented 12 years ago

It *is* an adding machine, it's just a binary, not decimal one. The number adding he does he does merely to convert the numbers from binary to decimal.
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+2 16. jwn commented 12 years ago

Once again, I'll say that this is far from useless. It's a great learning tool for young CS students. I can see the calibre of intelligence here isn't what I assumed.
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+2 17. spamcop commented 12 years ago

Guys, this is really not waste of time.
This is actually how computer works with numbers (yes, in exactly this binary format).

And for jayjay101:

Yes, this model is even for subtraction:

Just use brain and you will understand that.
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-11 18. Noureddin commented 12 years ago

I could simply use something called. A BRAIN... What are you? Kids? Who the fuck would need this. Plus, Kids got parents and teacher to teach them. Parents would be best(Home schooling)cause pubic school is not worth it. Don't ask why. Take your kid to public school and he will have sex with like 7 girls and will die by drugs. Freaking useless public school.

Anyways, This is pretty useless invention. Everything has a use... but, This is PRETTY f-ing useless. Stupid, retarded, junk, waste of wood, Waste and time to make, etc.

-goes ALL the way to where he lives and punches him and goes allll the way back home-
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+3 19. Kosmology commented 12 years ago

i'm guessing you never had sex noureddin... how sad...
BTW not everything has a use.. most things don't have a use and of course one of the things without use is people like you who complain about everything and do nothing... just waiting for someone else to screw up...
I pity you for your arrogance... your insecurity... your low self esteem... and your small c**k...
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-2 20. talldustin commented 11 years ago

I got a calculator for that! Who has marbles anymore?
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+1 21. spynode commented 10 years ago

Well obviously this is a math concept not a practical computer. Seriously how stupid you people can be? Jeoulus much ?
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+1 22. Hellion1982 commented 10 years ago

@Noureddin, you must have had a sad, sad life. May it be short.

Anyhoo, this machine might not work for numbers beyong 64, but the very conceptualisation is pretty intelligent. Two Thumbs up, I dig clever devices. Even if they are limited.
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+1 23. Petra commented 9 years ago

I saw this a few years ago. This video is still cool.
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0 24. cyberdevil commented 8 years ago

It doesn't even need batteries. Genius. :D
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+1 25. loadrunner commented 8 years ago

8 bits in a byte.
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+1 26. Premtm commented 8 years ago

Guys who don't understand this may better stick to your calculators.... :D