Turn an LED on and off apparently.
ETA to someone setting up an array and running Doom or Linux?
Comment on 1-bit CPU for ‘super low-performance computer’ launched – sells out promptly
meco03211@lemmy.world 10 months ago
What’s the purpose of this thing?
jordanlund@lemmy.world 10 months ago
otter@lemmy.ca 10 months ago
3 months
ByteJunk@lemmy.world 10 months ago
How many for bad apple
Treczoks@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Fun. It does not much, really. Two instructions (add, jump), parameters either 0 or 1, two instructions in total. It just shows how a computer works in general. All key signals are visible (Clock, Program Counter, Accumulator).
About as useful as a quantum computer, just way cheaper.
Crul@lemm.ee 10 months ago
AFAIK, they are used as relays.
From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-bit_computing#1-bit
Computers and microcomputers may also be used, but they tend to overcomplicate the task and often require highly trained personnel to develop and maintain the system. A simpler device, designed to operate on inputs and outputs one-at-a-time and configured to resemble a relay system, was introduced. These devices became known to the controls industry as programmable logic controllers (PLC).
See also the playlist linked in the other comment with more explanations:
1-Bit Breadboard Computer - Usagi Electric (YouTube)barsoap@lemm.ee 10 months ago
Actual PLCs in the wild are industrial cabinets with a lot more capacity. Price-wise if you have a DIY project in mind you’re better off buying a RISC-V microcontroller, under 10 bucks including board, with vastly more IO and processing power. Still not enough to replace one of those industrial cabinets, though, especially when it comes to IO capacity, do you have any idea how many sensors and actuators rollercoasters have.
This thing is so limited you have to engineer your problem to fit. Maybe something like switching your doorbell from normal to quiet to silent to flash lights.
guitarsarereal@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
Education.
rescue_toaster@lemm.ee 10 months ago
I teach an electronics class and a barebones version of this is one of the early logic gate labs: an SR latch built using NAND gates. It can set and reset a bit!
Treczoks@lemmy.world 10 months ago
This is the perfect gadget for teaching electronics and logic.
If I was to teach such a class, I would set up exactly that circuit without telling them what it is, and let the kids find out: “You’ve got three LEDs and four DIP switches. Here you have a circuit diagram of it. What is this thing?”
doubletandard@lemmy.world 10 months ago
mee seek and destroy…what’s is my purpose again?
linearchaos@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Sorry, one bit isn’t even going to pass butter…
linearchaos@lemmy.world 10 months ago
It’s a computer in almost its simplest form.
There’s almost nothing to it, the circuit diagram is easy to read, you program it literally by flipping a couple of dip switches.
It’s kind of an experiment for someone wanting to get into retro computer or hardware design.
That said it’s essentially useless and I would much rather buy a kit from Ben Eater start with a 6502 and make something that can actually run complex programs.
darkpanda@lemmy.ca 10 months ago
Even with just one bit and a few switches this seems like the sort of thing Picard could use to send an encoded message to Riker and Data in the future should the need arise.
SzethFriendOfNimi@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Why not use well placed gold plate with impressions? Times gonna march on anyway, no need for power either.