Alfred M. Szmidt wrote:
Programming an analogue computer is like programming a digital computer by using TTL circutes. There is nothing `soft' about it. So unless you are going to state that a bunch of TTL chips connected in some form to make LEDs flash is a `program', and by direct consequene claim that hardware are programs, I suggest that you refrain from writting anymore about this topic that you obviously have no clue about, but if you'd like to learn more, feel free to send me a email.
push tangent
On a tangent, does that mean the audio track on cine film is software for an analogue computer? Or at least has a similar form.
I'm reminded of an old television effects system that worked by analogue processing of the CRT deflection coils, and had another camera taking the new (carefully distorted image) from the CRT.
It could do various sweeps, page-turn effects and other fantastic stuff.
I guess it _could_ have had software on tape to control some operations, but perhaps that would count as parameters to the hard wired analogue computer controlling the coils.
I'm just trying to think what form analogue computer software would take, I think I'm getting stuck because I'm not aware of any analogue computers that have a clearly defined execution and control unit to act on any "program input" (for obvious reasons!)
So I guess that tape input to the crt controller might count as software....
pop tangent