Early computer questions for story.

This is for anyone even just made up plausible ideas as well.

These may seem like a strange questions but I don't know who to ask. The internet hasn't really been able to answer them for me.

If a computer whiz from 2015 who knew how to build and program computers I'm talking Reed Richards type intellect here. If he traveled to the 1950s and was stuck there and had just a laptop or I-pad with him.
What kind of computer could he build back then?
How big would it have to be?
What kind of things could he use it for? Practical applications etc.

I've found pictures online and the Computers from the 50s were as big as a bus.
Could he make something much smaller with 50s parts?
Could he do Wi-Fi?
Could make an internet?
Could he make cellular tech to give to people and talk remotely?
Would he have to make a tower or satellite to do it?

I'm not really talking about realistically, just possible or probable. I have specific ideas for this and would appreciate any feedback. I just want something that sounds plausible.

Great info, Brien!

Now I know who to turn to for my tech questions.

And believe me, they are coming! (Mwa-haha!).

Brien Sparling said:

If CW ( CompWhiz) went back to the fifties with a laptop he would encounter some significant resources: Commercial Electron microscopes (Starting in 1938), a rapidly developing electronics and metal alloy field driven by the cold war and a rapidly expanding US postwar economy. Laser/Maser race started in 1957 and ended in 61. Resins, polymers, plastics were being innovated with the help of displaced German scientists. A interesting site on the history of the silicon chip is at http://www.computerhistory.org/semiconductor/welcome.html Communication satellites were being talked about in 55 but the first COMSAT didn't officially launch until 1962. http://history.nasa.gov/satcomhistory.html No chance of doing internet, however the basics of RADAR, SONAR and microwave communication were all in place.

This is for anyone even just made up plausible ideas as well. These may seem like a strange questions but I don't know who to ask. The internet hasn'…

Replies

Tom Montgomery August 1, 2017 at 3:01pm

Great info, Brien!

Now I know who to turn to for my tech questions.

And believe me, they are coming! (Mwa-haha!).

Brien Sparling said:

If CW ( CompWhiz) went back to the fifties with a laptop he would encounter some significant resources: Commercial Electron microscopes (Starting in 1938), a rapidly developing electronics and metal alloy field driven by the cold war and a rapidly expanding US postwar economy. Laser/Maser race started in 1957 and ended in 61. Resins, polymers, plastics were being innovated with the help of displaced German scientists. A interesting site on the history of the silicon chip is at http://www.computerhistory.org/semiconductor/welcome.html Communication satellites were being talked about in 55 but the first COMSAT didn't officially launch until 1962. http://history.nasa.gov/satcomhistory.html No chance of doing internet, however the basics of RADAR, SONAR and microwave communication were all in place.

Early computer questions for story.

This is for anyone even just made up plausible ideas as well. These may seem like a strange questions but I don't know who to ask. The internet hasn'…
Kevin D. Lintz August 10, 2015 at 2:13pm

Watch Back to the Future part 2 and see how Doc uses 1950's vacuum tubes to fix the Delorean
Christopher Lee Jones August 8, 2015 at 8:00am

Thanks for the input.
Brien Sparling August 7, 2015 at 7:21pm

If CW ( CompWhiz) went back to the fifties with a laptop he would encounter some significant resources: Commercial Electron microscopes (Starting in 1938), a rapidly developing electronics and metal alloy field driven by the cold war and a rapidly expanding US postwar economy. Laser/Maser race started in 1957 and ended in 61. Resins, polymers, plastics were being innovated with the help of displaced German scientists. A interesting site on the history of the silicon chip is at http://www.computerhistory.org/semiconductor/welcome.html Communication satellites were being talked about in 55 but the first COMSAT didn't officially launch until 1962. http://history.nasa.gov/satcomhistory.html No chance of doing internet, however the basics of RADAR, SONAR and microwave communication were all in place.

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