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Ian Douglas Scott's posts Post Back to profile
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Chris Bohn

@echopapa @thomasfricke @birnim @ids1024
Bah! A magnetized needle was more than adequate until flash memory came along.
xkcd.com/378/

15 Dec 2022 at 12:01 | Wall-to-wall | Open on techhub.social
6 comments
Thomas Fricke (he/him)
Chris Bohn

@thomasfricke @echopapa @birnim @ids1024
Obviously "editing a file with a magnetized needle" is a joke, but I recently noticed this core memory kit that includes a magnetized stylus to edit the memory contents.
core64.io/

15 Dec 2022 at 12:21 | Open on techhub.social
echopapa ☑️
Greg

@DocBohn @thomasfricke @echopapa @birnim @ids1024
In our tech museum at IBM Hursley, we have an example of early memory produced by French lacemakers, who had the rare ability to accurately thread the tiny ferrite(?) beads.

The museum's an incredible walk down memory lane, however old you are.

15 Dec 2022 at 13:11 | Open on c.im
birnim

@thomasfricke @DocBohn @echopapa @ids1024 all I remember about punch cards is their hard paper. they made great whips, a nice addition to DIY wooden swords

15 Dec 2022 at 13:21 | Open on fosstodon.org
Chris Bohn

@birnim @thomasfricke @echopapa @ids1024 Yeah, I got into computing as paper was on its way out -- I learned to program on a Heathkit H89, and in my undergrad days we used VT102 and Wyse-50 terminals. My freshman textbooks straddled the eras.

I once used a roll of punchtape as a source of bookmarks that lasted for *years*.

15 Dec 2022 at 13:52 | Open on techhub.social
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