What is Digg?62 Comments
- FuryOfThor, on 07/30/2008, -1/+26"It is as important for the history of science and technology as the Acropolis is for architecture," adds Prof John Seiradakis of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
It is an amazing device, but the fact that it is "more complex than any other known device for the next 1,000 years" makes it seem an amazing anomaly, but not hugely important for the history of science and technology. To be important in the history of science and technology, I think the technological innovation has to spread past a single device to ignite change. The Gutenberg Press, for example, was amazing in and of itself, but it also changed how an entire continent looked at literacy, once a luxury for the super wealthy and an obligation of monks. Similarly, the personal computer once was thought to be either impossible or impractical, but because it has become so widely adopted and so empowering for people worldwide, I would give it a prominent spot in the history of science and technology. - SirLantos, on 07/31/2008, -0/+22"We have been able to read inscriptions inside the mechanism that had not been read/deciphered before, and the results have been a revelation," said Mr Bitsakis. "The inscriptions are like an 'Instruction Manual', telling the user the underlying way the machine worked. We are still reading inscriptions thanks to further data processing with more powerful machines."
Thus proving that commenting your code is a time tested practice. - fluidfoundation, on 07/31/2008, -0/+19Wait, whats this on the side? TI-82BC?
- saxmaster, on 07/30/2008, -0/+11It makes you wonder how many other inventions there were that came long before their time. I remember seeing a documentary about Egyptian batteries used to gold-plate statues.
Many "modern" inventions (like this one) wouldn't have had much use in warfare or agriculture, but may have been invented by the occasional genius. - agentVivid, on 07/31/2008, -0/+10I DISAGREE: this type of timekeeping system would be absolutely required if you wanted to accurately map the world by sea... for this reason alone it is amongst the most important for the history of science and technology...
- rz8472, on 07/31/2008, -2/+11It's a shame that Greek society collapsed... I sometimes think of how advanced society would be today if that hadn't happened.
- com2, on 07/31/2008, -0/+7Time is relative, therefore all timekeeping systems are flawed.
- nesagwa, on 07/31/2008, -2/+8Im not using Metric time.
You cant make me. - mofw, on 07/31/2008, -0/+5Time does not exist.
- Scurro, on 07/31/2008, -3/+8But can it run crysis?
- richmomz, on 07/31/2008, -0/+4I placed this comment earlier but is probably more appropriate here. From a story linked to this one:
Prof Edmunds said: "It makes you wonder what they would have achieved if the Romans hadn't taken over and put a stop to things. Would they have had a man on the Moon by AD300?
"It sounds ridiculous, but if they were able to construct something as technically brilliant as this, it's not complete fantasy."
It's not out of the question - if you think about where we were three hundred years ago we were just rediscovering many of the things the ancient greeks already knew about (advanced astronomy, mechanical engineering, steam power, etc). If Alexander's empire had not fallen apart we would likely be far more advanced than we are today - the rampant pillaging and totalitarianism of the Roman empire and the millenia-long dark ages that followed probably set back the development of mankind 2000 years. - dnields, on 07/31/2008, -0/+4Yeah, I already read about this on Digg yesterday:
http://digg.com/olympics/Ancient_Olympic_Calculato ... - wsuBobby, on 07/31/2008, -1/+5"We knew that this 2,100 year-old ancient Greek mechanism..."
First sentence after the video. - eviljolly, on 07/31/2008, -6/+10I don't see what the birth of Christ has to do with this. Can't they just tell us how old it is?
- richmomz, on 07/31/2008, -0/+3From a story linked to this one:
Prof Edmunds said: "It makes you wonder what they would have achieved if the Romans hadn't taken over and put a stop to things. Would they have had a man on the Moon by AD300?
"It sounds ridiculous, but if they were able to construct something as technically brilliant as this, it's not complete fantasy."
It's not out of the question - if you think about where we were three hundred years ago we were just rediscovering many of the things the ancient greeks already knew about (advanced astronomy, mechanical engineering, steam power, etc). If Alexander's empire had not fallen apart we would likely be far more advanced than we are today - the rampant pillaging and totalitarianism of the Roman empire and the millenia-long dark ages that followed probably set back the development of mankind 2000 years. - geoken, on 07/31/2008, -0/+3Rhodes was pretty well known for automatons. Also, Greek civilization was heavily influenced by technology and science. In turn, modern civilization was heavily influenced by Greek civilization.
The various technologies that aided Greek travelers had a big impact on the world. - richmomz, on 07/31/2008, -0/+3http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/14/0705 ...
"Inside the corroded rock was what looked like a geared embryo—the incipient bud of an industrial age that remained unborn for a millennium." - cesclaveria, on 07/31/2008, -0/+3some decades after Archimedes death?
- DaHuuuuuudge, on 07/31/2008, -1/+4I've never heard of any religion that believes the world didn't exist until Jesus was born.
- billbugger, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2Agreed. I mentioned the Romans above because with the fall of the Roman Empire, there was a massive amount of knowledge lost as well. Same with the fall of the Greek Empire, The Babylonian Empire, and The Mongol Empire (largest in history).
- Scoop0901, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2Used to track the olympics of the day, huh? As the saying goes, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Seems some in the old culture were focused on thinking, philosophy, solving problems, the average person was still focused on sports and may have had then, as we have today, misplaced hero worship of athletes.
- leerayIG88, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2I bet it doesn't show 8008135?
- inactive, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2the murder of archimedes is proof that we are doomed to destroy ourselves.
- borez, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2Decimalise time... OK that would ***** things up, I'm not really up for a ten day week with only ten months of the year.
- richmomz, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2The Romans probably did more harm than good. If they had left the Greeks unmolested we would probably be far more advanced today - see my comment below.
- eviljolly, on 07/31/2008, -1/+3Yes I know they said how old it was. I'm saying why couldn't they JUST (only) tell us how old it is. Hopefully anyone who believes in Christ knows how long ago that happened....
Most scientists wouldn't give a rat's ass about it's age in the relation to a religious icon. - geoken, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2They were focused on perfection of the human form. They also worshiped athletes more then we do. They would actually collect the sweat of the top athletes as keepsakes.
Anyway, I don't understand what's wrong with honoring someone who is able to excel at sports. In the end your honoring the universally commendable traits of dedication and inner strength. I don't see why that's misguided?
People of the time where focused on being whole. That meant being well versed in athletics as well as philosophy, the sciences, politics, etc. - adlep, on 07/31/2008, -1/+3Very nice.
The Greek Engineer Heron has ALMOST invented a steam turbine. Actually he did, but he treated it just as a toy. - lisaemily, on 07/31/2008, -0/+2The New yorker wrote a great article about this discovery last year- May 14, 2007
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/05/14/0705 ... - MasterGrief, on 07/31/2008, -1/+2Hi-*****-larious
- animaetaeris, on 08/02/2008, -0/+1Actually we scientists use the same conventional dates but we call it BCE instead of BC- "Before the Common Era"
- billbugger, on 07/31/2008, -1/+2But his point is: That while it's a great invention and you are right, it actually wasn't even used therefore it had no impact on science and technology. Hell, the microwave has had more of an impact for those 3am pizza pocket cravings you get. It's still a great invention, especially for it's time!
- billbugger, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1Same with Roman.
- Murdats, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1what about a 6/4 work week, work one extra day for 2 extra off.
of course it would probably end up at 7/3 work 2 more for 1 more.
but then assuming we have 2 10 hour half days to keep time similar to current, then work days would quite possibly be shortened.
but until it happens who knows what social norms will be determined. - ripter, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1I agree that the Gregorian Calendar is probably not the best, but what do you have in mind as a replacement?
- sparkleshine, on 08/01/2008, -0/+1Time is calculated, in our society, by the event's relation to the birth of Christ. AD = anno domini - the year of our Lord
- damienv5, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1It certainly would have been if it hadn't been lost for 2000 years.
- gdha, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1Good read.
- agentVivid, on 08/04/2008, -0/+1How can you be sure it wasn't used? Based on it's advanced calculations, I'm pretty sure it was used at least once... otherwise why would it have been built ?! ;)
- rezonq3, on 07/31/2008, -1/+2Someday people will be saying the same about our society.
- appleseed1234, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1The instruction book reads 09-F9...
- aAnaRchY, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1no
- mozi470, on 07/31/2008, -0/+1I also disagree. This amazing piece of technology indeed may [or may not] be an anomalous invention. It's at the very least an important discovery today because it reveals some of the holes in our modern thinking [as well as archeology] about ancient civilizations!
Contrary to popular belief, neither the Greeks, nor the Romans, nor the Egyptians, nor the Persians were primitives eking out brutish lives in ages of darkness. Medieval historians will tell you that even the so-called "Dark Ages" were nothing of the sort. The idea of the "Dark Ages" was more or less a fabrication used by scholars from the 14th century onward to promote the idea that their way of doing things was better than the blind fools before them. Its a myth that has prevailed into the present that we are always superior to those that come before us. And a convenient, self-aggrandizing myth at that.
Maybe the revelation of this ancient piece of technology will remind us to be a bit more humble in our sense of accomplishment and help us keep a healthier perspective of our historical heritage. - dpcx, on 07/31/2008, -0/+0They have fallen as soon as democracy won there. :)
Don't belive? Check the facts for yourself. - Sycov, on 07/31/2008, -2/+2Fascinating.
- AirportManager, on 07/31/2008, -0/+0ha, funny. I can remember back in grade school, where we would go through an entire Dolly Parton skit to get the results.
- PabloMac, on 07/31/2008, -3/+3You're not using proper English, either.
- RealmDown, on 07/31/2008, -1/+1If that includes you, I can see why you are using sarcasm.
- Druc3, on 07/31/2008, -1/+1Cool, but it fell out of use when it had the YzeroK bug.
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