Geniac
Encyclopedia
Geniac was an educational toy billed as a "computer
" designed and marketed by Edmund Berkeley
from 1955 through the 1960s. The name stood for "Genius Almost-automatic Computer."
Basically a rotary switch
construction set, the Geniac contained six perforated hardboard wheels, into which brass jumpers could be inserted. It had no active elements at all; no relay
s, tubes, or transistor
s. All sequencing was performed manually by the operator, sometimes following fairly complicated printed directions (turn this wheel in this direction if this light lights, etc.)
The instruction book gave jumper
positions and wiring diagrams for building a number of "computers." Electric current
from a dry cell
was routed through the rotary switches to light one or more flashlight bulbs. The kit allowed for the realization of fairly complicated Boolean equations, so the behavior of the "computer" could sometimes be interesting.
A typical project was a primitive "masculinity-femininity tester." The user was instructed to answer ten questions related to gender, such as "Which makes a better toy for a child:a) a doll, b) a toy truck." For each "a" answer, one wheel was turned one position clockwise; for each "b" answer, another wheel was turned one position clockwise. The circuit wiring effectively compared the two wheel positions, and lit up a "more masculine" or "more feminine" bulb depending on which wheel had been turned further.
Widely advertised in science and electronics magazines, the Geniac provided many youths with their first hands-on introduction to computer concepts and Boolean logic.
A similar product, called Brainiac was introduced later; it was essentially a reduced-cost version of the Geniac with provision for only three rotary switches.
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
" designed and marketed by Edmund Berkeley
Edmund Berkeley
Edmund Callis Berkeley was an American computer scientist who co-founded the Association for Computing Machinery in 1947. He was also a social activist who worked to achieve conditions that might minimize the threat of nuclear war.-Biography:Berkeley received a BA in Mathematics and Logic from...
from 1955 through the 1960s. The name stood for "Genius Almost-automatic Computer."
Basically a rotary switch
Rotary switch
A rotary switch is a switch operated by rotation. These are often chosen when more than 2 positions are needed, such as a three-speed fan or a CB radio with multiple frequencies of reception or "channels"....
construction set, the Geniac contained six perforated hardboard wheels, into which brass jumpers could be inserted. It had no active elements at all; no relay
Relay
A relay is an electrically operated switch. Many relays use an electromagnet to operate a switching mechanism mechanically, but other operating principles are also used. Relays are used where it is necessary to control a circuit by a low-power signal , or where several circuits must be controlled...
s, tubes, or transistor
Transistor
A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and power. It is composed of a semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one pair of the transistor's terminals changes the current...
s. All sequencing was performed manually by the operator, sometimes following fairly complicated printed directions (turn this wheel in this direction if this light lights, etc.)
The instruction book gave jumper
Jumper (computing)
In electronics and particularly computing, a jumper is a short length of conductor used to close a break in or bypass part of an electrical circuit...
positions and wiring diagrams for building a number of "computers." Electric current
Electric current
Electric current is a flow of electric charge through a medium.This charge is typically carried by moving electrons in a conductor such as wire...
from a dry cell
Dry Cell
-Dry Cell's formation:Part of the band formed in 1998 when guitarist Danny Hartwell and drummer Brandon Brown met at the Ratt Show on the Sunset Strip. They later met up with then-vocalist Judd Gruenbaum. The original name of the band was "Beyond Control"....
was routed through the rotary switches to light one or more flashlight bulbs. The kit allowed for the realization of fairly complicated Boolean equations, so the behavior of the "computer" could sometimes be interesting.
A typical project was a primitive "masculinity-femininity tester." The user was instructed to answer ten questions related to gender, such as "Which makes a better toy for a child:
Widely advertised in science and electronics magazines, the Geniac provided many youths with their first hands-on introduction to computer concepts and Boolean logic.
A similar product, called Brainiac was introduced later; it was essentially a reduced-cost version of the Geniac with provision for only three rotary switches.