{"id":1481,"date":"2016-11-09T14:18:04","date_gmt":"2016-11-09T14:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rsoftsolution.com\/blog\/giant-machine-shows-how-a-computer-works.html"},"modified":"2016-11-09T14:18:04","modified_gmt":"2016-11-09T14:18:04","slug":"giant-machine-shows-how-a-computer-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbsitsoftwaresolution.in\/blog\/giant-machine-shows-how-a-computer-works.html","title":{"rendered":"Giant machine shows how a computer works"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n [from L-R] Richard Grafton, Professor David May and Sam Russell, in front of the Big Hex Machine. Credit: University of Bristol
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A giant, fully operational 16-bit computer that aims to demystify the strange and seemingly magical mechanisms of computation has been built by students and staff from the University of Bristol.\n <\/p>\n


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The Big Hex Machine<\/a>, specifically designed to explain how a computer works, has been built out of over 100 specially designed four-bit circuit boards and will enable students to be taught about the fundamental principles<\/a> of computer architecture from just a few basic components.<\/p>\n

The computer – ‘an ultimate teaching tool’ – will be used as part of this year’s computer architecture unit and will be an invaluable resource to enable students to get creative with what is traditionally seen as a complicated subject. The machine’s instruction set requires a very small compiler, but it is powerful enough to implement useful programs.<\/p>\n

David May, Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science, who designed the architecture and its accompanying language, said: “You cannot understand how a computer works by taking one apart! In our giant machine, all of the structure is clearly visible – as is the movement of information as it executes programs. It demonstrates the principle used in all computers – general-purpose hardware controlled by a stored program. “<\/p>\n

The wall-mounted computer, based in the Merchant Venturers School of Engineering, measures over eight square metres. Along with the processor, it has input and output devices, a custom built LED matrix, a web-based application to control its operation, and a complete toolchain for students to write, build and execute their own software.<\/p>\n

Richard Grafton, Senior Creative Teaching Technologist in the Department of Computer Science, said: “Building such a machine was not a trivial task. It’s a result of a great collaboration between students and staff and a real testament to persistence, commitment and teamwork. Most importantly, it’s an achievement of thinking a bit differently.”<\/p>\n

Sam Russell, a third year computer science<\/a> student, who worked on building both the prototype and final machine, added: “It was exciting for me to almost cast myself back to the problems encountered by the original computer<\/a> building engineers. I literally put my blood, sweat and tears into something that is an art work, an educational tool, a gigantic toy, a spark to reminisce of the old days, but most of all, something that demystifies the magic to something that everyone can understand.”<\/p>\n

The machine will be officially unveiled at a special event later in the year.\n <\/p>\n

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