1840 Indian Rebirth

Chapter 207 [General Dynamics]

"Is he the one who helped you make the parts of the difference engine?" Ma Shao asked.

Babbage nodded: "That's right. You know that the difference engine cost a lot of money, but I don't know how much this guy pocketed. He also tried to hide the machine and blueprints, and deliberately wanted to possess some equipment... If you let this If you don’t have someone to help you do the work, then you just wait to be fooled!”

The horse whistle was silent for a moment: "Then who do you think I should find?"

Babbage coughed twice: "What do you think of me?"

The horse whistle was stunned: "You?"

Babbage went on to say: "I am also very good at machinery, and I don't need to be paid."

"...Then what do you want?" Horse Whistle could probably guess.

Sure enough, Babbage said: "If you will help me build a computing machine."

Horse Whistle sighed: "With all due respect, Mr. Babbage, I'm not very optimistic about mechanical computers, and I don't think your design is very practical—although it is indeed wonderful, it is difficult to achieve the expected effect."

Babbage defended: "These you say may be the shortcomings of the Difference Engine, but my new design has been greatly improved."

Horse Whistle: "Have you communicated with Bull?"

"Not yet, but I read some of his articles."

Horse whistle: "This is my very serious suggestion. Boolean's mathematical research is of great significance to computing machines. If you really want to realize your dream, you'd better have a chat with Boolean."

Babbage thought for a while.

Ma Shao hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Actually, I am very optimistic about computing machines. In my opinion, it is even more promising than the telegraph, but it is also farther away than the telegraph. It is difficult to make great progress in 50 years. Therefore, we What really needs to be done is mathematical research like that of Boolean and Ada, rather than racking your brains to pile up gears... To put it bluntly, Mr. Babbage, I think your work is a bit like those hard calculations before the Newton era The mathematicians of pi are great, of course, but..."

He did not go on.

Babbage was a brilliant mathematician and certainly understood what he was trying to say.

Ancient mathematicians relied on methods such as circumcision to calculate pi, which was very hard.Rudolph spent his whole life and energy, but he only counted 35 people.

In Newton's era, using more profound mathematical methods, it only takes a few days to easily surpass Rudolph's results.

The purely mechanical computer Babbage wanted to make weighed several tons, had thousands of mechanical parts, and was not easy to use.

From Ma Shao's point of view, this is like Rudolph's pi that exploded back then.

When Babbage heard this, his face suddenly felt unnatural.

In fact, after experiencing many setbacks, of course he will not be completely unaware of the truths that the horse sentry said.

But the mechanical computer has become an obsession in his heart, if it is not built, it is really hard to be reconciled.

After the difference engine failed, people all over the UK laughed at him, and now he just wants to prove himself!
The air was quiet for a while.

Babbage seemed to calm down, and then said: "Maybe you are right, but I still want to warn you that Clement is not trustworthy."

Ma Whistle touched his chin and pondered for a long time.

He had to admit that although Babbage was widely criticized for his bad temper, he had no notoriety in matters of principle.

If Clement had been such a mean fellow as Babbage said, he certainly would not have hired him.

Being short-tempered is less of a problem than breaking one's word.

And putting aside the personality problem, Babbage is actually not bad, with outstanding ability, and seems to be...

You can whore for nothing.

"You said just now that you don't need salary, right?" Ma Shao asked.

"Of course, I don't need a salary, and I don't even need anything, as long as I can build the machine." Babbage's eyes lit up.

He is a rich second generation. Although his father's inheritance of [-] pounds has been lost by him, he can still live the affluent life that ordinary people dream of. Salary is really not that important.

Ma Shao thought about it: "Well, I can let you research computing machines in my company and provide you with financial, theoretical, technical and other support, but there are a few conditions."

"First, you can get the honor you deserve, such as naming the machine you developed as 'Babbage One' or other names you like, so that people will always remember your contribution, but any design and production The machines are entirely the property of the company."

"Second, you must obey the company's arrangement. You must first complete the tasks I gave you before you can study computing machines. The research must also be carried out according to the plan. And you can't be as capricious as before. During the research and development process, you must listen to the opinions of your colleagues with an open mind. Opinions, instead of arguing with people every day."

"Third, you said it yourself, you don't want a salary."

"Mr. Babbage, if you agree to these conditions, then you will be the chief technology officer of General Dynamics, and I won't have to hire Clement." Horse Whistle looked at Babbage.

"What is your plan?" asked Babbage.

Ma Shao: "To put it simply, General Motors' mechanical computer will serve theoretical research and practical applications, and it will be combined with electricity as much as possible, rather than purely mechanical."

"for example?"

"For example, the research of Bull and Ada, such as predicting tides." Ma Shao said.

Although the future of mechanical computers is bleak, it cannot be said that they are useless. In addition to academic significance, there are also successful cases at the practical level.

The tide machine is one of the more successful ones, and its inventor is none other than the old friend of the horse whistle - Kelvin.

Compared with the difference engine and analysis engine, the Kelvin scheme is undoubtedly worth promoting.

Of course, Kelvin designed the first mechanical computer capable of predicting tides more than [-] years later, and there is no sign of it now.

Before I knew it, I was going to plagiarize Kelvin again.

Thinking of this, Ma Shao couldn't help but feel a little guilty towards Kelvin...

Babbage struggled for a long time.

He doesn't care about salary and other things, and he doesn't mind spending time on other jobs, but the problem is that the computing machine that Ma Shao wants to develop is not exactly in line with his ideals.

But if he doesn't agree, where should he go to find another strong supporter like Horse Whistle?

Except for Ada, no one is willing to support him anymore, and Ada only provides him with some mathematical support.

It can be predicted that under such circumstances, he probably has no hope of building an ideal mechanical computer in his life.

In contrast, Horse Whistle can provide him with all the support, abundant funds, perfect theory, advanced technology...

Based on this, he is almost certain that the tide machine is by no means a fantasy, but a reality that is close at hand, and it will not take too long to create it.

But that's not what he dreamed of.

One is a dream that cannot be realized, and the other is a dream that can be realized but has deviations. How should one choose?
After some ideological struggle, Babbage made his choice: "I promise you."

Horse Whistle smiled: "Welcome to General Dynamics, Chief Technology Officer Mr. Babbage."

(End of this chapter)