An Early Computer Was Based on a Urinal Flush Mechanism

nautil.us

14 pointsrl34 comments

Notably this wasn't the first water computer. Compare

1) Water Integrator, Vladimir Lukyanov, Soviet Union 1936

2) The MONIAC (Monetary National Income Analogue Computer) or Phillips Hydraulic Computer (also known as the Phillips Machine), William Phillips, GB 1949

[1] http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=n&prev=...

[2] http://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/may/08/bankofenglan...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_-uGHWz_k0 (Video, 2009)

MONIAC, according to Wikipedia, comes from Money and ENIAC. But I can't stop smiling seeing Urine and *moniac in the same thread.

Destiny.

Is this where the notion of "overflow" comes from?

Only if it's a full bladder.

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