Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere.

The following was snipped from the BBC news page

A UK campaign to build a truck-sized, prototype computer first envisaged in 1837 is gathering steam. More than 1,600 people have pledged money and support to build Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.

Although elements of the engine have been built over the last 173 years, a complete working model of the steam-powered machine has never been made. The campaign hopes to gather donations from 50,000 supporters to kick-start the project.

"It's an inspirational piece of equipment," said John Graham-Cumming, author of the Geek Atlas, who has championed the idea. "A hundred years ago, before computers were available, [Babbage] had envisaged this machine." Computer historian Dr Doron Swade said that rebuilding the machine could answer "profound historical questions".

"Could there have been an information age in Victorian times? That is a very interesting question," he told BBC News.

Link to the story below

Cool..Thanks for that

I really hope they get to build it, it would be fun to see just what it could do, and how fast...are we talking Hz here...or what?

Could you over clock it ?...What about cooling...Inquiring hackers want to know!

Yeah, the movement has been going for a few years now, but is finally getting some momentum. Have they mentioned whether they will be using Ada King, Countess Lovelace's (Lord Byron's daughter) programming yet? Still some work to be finished there too.


The original sexy nerd girl.

Mind you, the company that never did finish the Analytical Engine is still going strong....

The Auld Grump - two parts, the difference engine was essentially a calculator. The analytical engine enters the realm of the computer....

2003 London UK

So much better looking than the ubiquitous 'beige box'
(I'm referring to the contents of the display case, lol)

Hee hee. Dude, I have lost 50 pounds and look about 30 years old at this point. The Hot Girlfriend will concur.