Roboticist-Turned-Teacher Built a Life-Size Replica of Eniac

EDIT: oh, it's really just "visual simulation" if you want to put it like that.

"Vacuum tubes were recreated using paper printed elements that match the size, spacing, and density of the originals... Cabling paths and plugboard interfaces were recreated visually and spatially so students could understand how dense, repetitive, and precise the machine was." https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/21/eniac_model_build/

Yup. There's no volume in hobbyist robot kits.

To this day I still have to do basic arithmetic on my hands, and I'm very self conscious about being in a field where there are people who can just do these calculations in their head. "How do have trouble with this, aren't you a computer genius?" is something I've heard many times. I like computers because they do the calculations for me! To a large degree, most of my life I've felt like an imposter for this reason, believing that I'm not smart but I just try hard. It wasn't until I got older that I realized there's not much of a difference between the two.

I didn't get the dyscalculia diagnosis until I went for ADHD testing at 36. I don't know if / how these things are linked. I don't think my dyscalculia or ADHD or my autism or neurodivergence are superpowers at all -- I view them as limitations. It's great that Tom feels empowered and that makes me happy for him, but at the same time if you have these disabilities you shouldn't feel bad if in fact you find them limiting and not a "superpower". Being ND is very difficult at times, so if you're having a hard time with it that's not something to feel bad about.

We need many more of these sorts of projects - for kids as well as adults