Transistors to CPU For Code Societies 2020 at SFPC
What is computer, really? Computer is an idea that’s evolved over time. The sleek machines we use day-to-day are made from elements extracted from the earth, and every bit of data is actually something, somewhere. And underneath the operating systems, there’s a history that needs to be examined. Let’s build a computer, from its most fundamental elements: Adder, Clock, and Memory. By handmaking a computer, soldering electronic components, we may find an elegance in the abstraction and repetition of computational logic that can only be described as “poetic.” Taeyoon Choi will use his open-source tool and curriculum for making computing more accessible, developed over time in collaboration with fellow SFPC teachers CW&T. By learning how computers work on a fundamental level, participants can gain agency and imagine a reciprocal relationship with technology. We can make technology more approachable by giving access to tools and ideas and demystifying computer science.
Tools:
- NPN Transistors
- Soldering irons
- SPDT Switches
- Oscilloscope
- Multimeters
- Lots of patience
Read: Handmade Computer