Since the message below was sent with the "wrong" subject line, I'm copying it with the "right" subject line, so it can be found in the subject thread. I'm pleased to get several responses to the notion of running some kind of physics simulation in FORTRAN, *or* on an analog computer; and some kind of associated "demonstrator" to visualize. That's good! Speaking for myself, my primary interest is to represent 1970's small computing, the microprocessors of the era. But I also want to support the efforts in progress, to repair and restore and operate, analog computers under similar conditions. and I'm not adverse to restoring minicomputers, I have a few myself... I'm not immediately inclined, to engage a bunch of folks in some kind of massive project to these ends. Especially, to operate any more-serious "iron" such as larger minicomputers (PDP-11, small VAX, etc.) - better folks than I are working on those. But the interesting thing about this idea of simulating physical systems, is that MANY forms of "iron" were used to achieve simulations. So my reaction to these encouragements - beyond getting encouraged myself! - is that those interested, can resurrect or poke-at their own sorts of simulations. Show us, and themselves, how to "get 'er done". When they get results - there's some pieces of the puzzle in operation - then there will be skills and tools available, from which some kind of larger project or bigger task can be considered. I'm not in charge, but that's how I see such work. You build the tools you need, then build what you can from them. The skills come along with making the tools work. The tools work YOU! ;) Then you have the basis to plan something more comprehensive. Kelly can do some show-and-tell or Web pages, on the work he did in the era. Tony can work with the Apple II accelerators, see if they can solve some simple physics problems from the Apple books - a lot of computers had accelerators, using them was a challenge! Our analog-computer friends including Bill below, are getting those machines in operation. They will need to solve some simple problems, to produce inputs and outputs that can be "computed" by external logic or display or computers. and mainframes and mini's, well they have to run SOMETHING, right? May as well be FORTRAN! and any floating-point boards they have... and if anyone else is inspired to deal with "real world" data, inputs or outputs or processes, more power to them too. We'll have a vocabulary of experience to speak from together. I'll start poking at some old FORTRAN compilers for some of my "little iron" (bigger than a cell phone, smaller than a PDP-11). And I can manage some of the physics needed - but not all, there's a whole world of numeric programming that people spend a lifetime upon. And I have a 3600 line physics program, I can see if that can be run on a simple computer. But this is what we did in the era, as engineers and techs, to produce the world, that made the world what it is today. It happens I have a modest example, already punched up: http://www.retrotechnology.com/memship/camp/1802_senior_prj.html A modest project, maybe: but see where this person went with his degree! Mighty oaks, from little acorns grow. Herb
SVCatITC at aol.com SVCatITC at aol.com Sat May 6 00:05:56 EDT 2017
BRAVO Herb;
You are another scholar who again brought back memories for me.
When EAI got too big for their britches, they got involved in full scope power plant simulators using SEL 32 mainframes and CDC Winchester drives. FORTRAN was the OS of the day on these mainframes modeling nuclear reactor vessels, and processes.
I have a very good PHD friend living out in Hightstown, NJ who still uses FORTRAN from time to time in his modeling work. We worked together on the ANPP project out in AZ for AZ Public Service (back in the late 80's). I can drop him a line if he might be interested in helping in such a project.
I helped him in showing him real life SCADA instrumentation dynamics so as he could get the software objects to respond and drive the instrumentation as fast as the real life analog processes did. ..... Not such an easy task.
Count me as one who would want to see something similar run on big iron. I might be able to help with the peripheral instrumentation as well.
If you are coming this weekend, we might talk further.
Many Thanks for your continued "long view" insight for the mission statement.
Bill Inderrieden
-- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info