GENIAC (Electric Brain) Replica

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GENIAC, an acronym for "GENIus Almost-automatic Computer", was a highly touted educational toy marketed as a cutting-edge "computer" that retailed for approximately $20 from 1955 through the sixties. Edmund C. Berkeley, with Oliver Garfield, designed and promoted GENIAC in prominent science and electronics magazines, exposing countless young minds to fundamental computer concepts and Boolean logic. Sold as an assemble-it-yourself kit, GENIAC consisted of a sturdy Masonite back panel featuring six concentric perforations, six matching perforated Masonite disks, and essential hardware listed below. Strategically positioned slotted brass bolts on the main back panel facilitated the creation of electrical connections when brass "jumpers" were inserted into the underside of the Masonite disks. These connections were then wired together with a battery and some lights to form "programs", essentially single-purpose machines that served a specific function. Technically, GENIAC was an assortment of configurable N-pole by N-throw rotary switches that could be set up in cascaded fashion to perform logical functions. As a result, GENIAC relied solely on combinational logic, with outputs dependent entirely on manually set inputs. Nevertheless, projects outlined in the manual progressed from basic logic circuits to more complex machines such as a NIM machine and TIC-TAC-TOE machine. For further information about GENIAC, visit the following links: * [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geniac) * [Old Computer Museum](https://www.oldcomputermuseum.com/geniac.html) * [The Computer Museum](https://museum.syssrc.com/artifact/240/) A captivating video showcases how some of the projects from the GENIAC manual could be interpreted as interactive narratives: <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="382" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6orV_Bldsk" width="679"></iframe> The original GENIAC manuals are included in PDF format, serving as a valuable reference for building numerous cool "machines". This project outlines the creation of a GENIAC Replica, complete with CAD files and instructions necessary to build one. The replica is based on the GENIAC manuals and photos available online. Two models are presented here: the "Classic" version closely mimics the original GENIAC, utilizing hardboard instead of Masonite for the base and disks. The jumpers are not brass plates but rather 3D printed components. The second model takes some liberties to enhance reliability by improving the mechanical switches.