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Advent of Computing · August 17 · 1 hr 5 min

Episode 187 - What's Better Than Binary?

Binary is synonymous with digital computing. But is it the only way to crunch numbers? The short answer is no. The long answer, well, that's today's topic. Today we are talking about ternary, aka base 3. From it's early uses in the 19th century, to actual computers, and even theoretical designs; ternary proves to be a difficult topic to track down... and a very unique one. Selected sources: https://www.mortati.com/glusker/fowler/fowlerbio.htm - Information and a reconstruction of Fowler's contraption https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/776378.776392 - Part I of the TERNAC papers, rationale! Like Advent of Computing? Then check out the after show! Adjunct of Computing is now LIVE: YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts

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Binary is synonymous with digital computing. But is it the only way to crunch numbers? The short answer is no. The long answer, well, that's today's topic. Today we are talking about ternary, aka base 3. From it's early uses in the 19th century, to actual computers, and even theoretical designs; ternary proves to be a difficult topic to track down... and a very unique one.

Selected sources:

https://www.mortati.com/glusker/fowler/fowlerbio.htm - Information and a reconstruction of Fowler's contraption

https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/776378.776392 - Part I of the TERNAC papers, rationale!

Like Advent of Computing? Then check out the after show! Adjunct of Computing is now LIVE: YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts

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