1840Indian rebirth

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

Babbage nodded: "Yes. You know that the Difference Engine cost a lot of money, but I don't know how much was pocketed by this guy. He also tried to hide the machine and drawings, and deliberately wanted to take possession of some equipment... If this is allowed

If you ask someone to do your work for you, just wait and be fooled!"

Ma Shao was silent for a moment: "Then who do you think I should find?"

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

Ma Shao was stunned: "You?"

Babbage then added: "I'm also good at mechanics, and I don't need a salary."

"...Then what do you want?" Ma Shao could probably guess it.

Sure enough, Babbage said: "As long as you are willing to help me build a calculating machine."

Ma Shao sighed: "With all due respect, Mr. Babbage, I am not very optimistic about mechanical computers, and I think your design is not very pragmatic - although it is indeed wonderful, it is difficult to achieve the expected effect."

Babbage defended: "What you mentioned may be the shortcomings of the difference engine, but my new design has been greatly improved."

Ma Shao: "Have you communicated with Bull?"

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

Ma Shao: "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 talk to Boolean."

Babbage thought for a while.

Mashao 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 further away than the telegraph. It is difficult to make major progress in fifty years. Therefore.

What we really need to do is mathematical research like Boolean and Ada, rather than racking our brains to pile up gears... To put it harshly, Mr. Babbage, I think your work is a bit like those before Newton's era.

Mathematicians who calculate pi are certainly great, but..."

He did not continue.

Babbage was an outstanding mathematician, and he certainly understood what he was trying to say.

Ancient mathematicians relied on methods such as circle slicing to calculate pi, which was very laborious. Rudolph spent his whole life trying to calculate pi, but he could only calculate 35 digits.

By the time of Newton, using more profound mathematical methods, it only took a few days to easily surpass Rudolph's results.

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

In Mashao's view, this is just like Rudolph's pi that broke his liver back then.

When Babbage heard this, his face suddenly became uncomfortable.

In fact, after experiencing many setbacks, he was certainly not completely unaware of the truths Ma Shao said.

However, mechanical computers have become an obsession in his heart. If he does not build one, he would really be unwilling to do so.

After the failure of the Difference Engine, everyone in Britain was laughing at him. 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 have to warn you that Clement is not trustworthy."

Ma Shao touched his chin and thought for a long time.

He must admit that although Babbage was widely criticized for his bad temper, he had never heard of a bad reputation for his principles.

If Clement was really as despicable as Babbage said, then he would definitely not have hired him.

Being bad-tempered is less of a problem than being treacherous.

Putting aside the personality issues, Babbage was actually pretty good, with outstanding abilities, and he seemed...

You can have sex for free.

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

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

He is a second-generation rich man. Although his father's inheritance of 100,000 pounds has been greatly lost by him, he can still live a prosperous life that ordinary people dream of. Salary is really not that important.

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

"First, you can get the honor you deserve, such as naming the machine you developed as 'Babbage No. 1' or any other name 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 arrangements and complete the tasks I give you first, and then you can research the computing machine. The research must also be carried out according to the plan. And you cannot be as willful as before. During the research and development process, you must listen to 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 will not have to hire Clement." Mashao looked at Babbage.

Babbage asked: "What is your plan?"

Ma Shao: "To put it simply, GE's mechanical computers will serve theoretical research and pragmatic applications."

"for example?"

"For example, Boole and Ada's research, such as predicting tides." Mashao said.

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

The tidal machine is one of the more successful ones. Its inventor is none other than Ma Shao's old friend - Kelvin.

Compared with the difference engine, analytical engine, etc., the Kelvin scheme is undoubtedly worthy of advancement.

Of course, it was more than twenty years later that Kelvin designed the first mechanical computer capable of predicting tides, and it has not yet happened.

Before I knew it, I was plagiarizing 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 things like salary, and he doesn't mind spending time doing other work, but the problem is that the computing machine Ma Shao wants to develop is not completely consistent with his ideals.

But if he doesn't agree, where can he find another strong supporter like Ma Shao?

Except for Ada, no one was willing to support him, and Ada only provided him with some mathematical support.

It is foreseeable that under such circumstances, he will probably have no hope of building an ideal mechanical computer in his lifetime.

In contrast, Mashao can provide him with all support, abundant funds, perfect theories, advanced technology...

Based on this, he was almost certain that the tidal machine was by no means a fantasy, but a reality that was close at hand and could be built in a short time.

But this deviated from his dream.

One is an impossible dream, and the other is a dream that can be realized but has deviations. How to choose?

After some ideological struggle, Babbage made his choice: "I promise you."

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