Masswerk's Virtual Punch Card Creator lets you design and visualize your own punched cards using a web-based interface. It emulates the classic IBM 80-column format, allowing you to input characters and see their corresponding hole punches in real-time. You can then download your creation as an SVG image or share a unique link to your design. The tool offers various customization options, including card colors and corner cuts, adding a touch of personalization to this nostalgic piece of computing history.
A developer created a web-based simulator that recreates the experience of using a telegraph. The simulator allows users to input a message, which is then converted into Morse code and visually transmitted as flashing lights and audible clicks, mimicking the original technology. It also features a receiver that decodes the transmitted Morse code back into text. This project provides a hands-on way to understand and interact with the historical process of telegraphic communication.
Hacker News users generally praised the Telegraph simulator for its simplicity, clean design, and accurate recreation of the Telegraph experience. Several commenters appreciated the nostalgia it evoked, recalling childhood memories of playing with similar toys. Some suggested improvements, such as adding sound or the ability to send messages between two simulated devices. A few users discussed the historical significance of the Telegraph and its role in communication technology. One commenter even shared a personal anecdote about their grandfather's career as a telegraph operator. The overall sentiment was positive, with many finding the project a charming and educational homage to a bygone era of communication.
The 1930s saw a diverse range of camera formats coexisting, from large format plate cameras favored by professionals to increasingly popular roll-film cameras like folding cameras and box cameras for casual users. Miniature format cameras using 35mm film, though existing, were still gaining traction. The era was characterized by evolving technology, with advancements in lenses, shutters, and film contributing to improved image quality and ease of use for amateur photographers. While sophisticated, high-quality cameras were available, affordability remained a barrier for many, with simpler, more accessible cameras dominating the consumer market.
Hacker News users discussed the practicality and social implications of the "Living Image" setup described in the linked article. Some questioned the claimed real-time nature of the system given the technological limitations of the 1930s, suggesting significant latency and low resolution would have hampered true "live" viewing. Others pointed out the substantial resources required, making it an exclusive technology accessible only to the very wealthy. The potential for surveillance and voyeurism was also raised, with comparisons to modern security systems and the panopticon concept. Finally, several commenters expressed fascination with the ingenuity of the system and the glimpse it provided into the technological aspirations of the era.
Summary of Comments ( 14 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43294751
HN commenters were fascinated by the virtual keypunch simulator, praising its attention to detail and the nostalgic feeling it evoked. Some shared personal anecdotes of using actual keypunches, reminiscing about the satisfying chunk sound and the physicality of the process. Others discussed the history and mechanics of keypunches, including the different models and their quirks. Several expressed appreciation for the simulator's educational value, allowing younger generations to experience a piece of computing history. The tactile feedback and the limitations of the technology were highlighted as aspects that fostered a different kind of focus and intentionality compared to modern coding environments. A few commenters pointed out related projects, such as a virtual teletype simulator.
The Hacker News post "Virtual Punch Card Creator" linking to a virtual punch card creator on masswerk.at has generated a modest number of comments, mostly focusing on the nostalgia and tangential historical aspects of punch cards rather than the tool itself.
One commenter reminisces about their first programming experience using punch cards, highlighting the tactile nature of the process and the anxiety associated with dropping a deck of cards. They also mention the use of card readers and the satisfying "chunk-chunk-chunk" sound they made.
Another comment thread discusses the different types of punch cards and their evolution, touching on the transition from 80-column cards to 96-column cards used by IBM System/3. This leads to a brief mention of mark-sense cards, which were an alternative input method.
One user expresses fascination with how data was represented physically on punch cards, reflecting on the ingenuity of representing characters and code through precisely placed holes. They also link this to the history of weaving using Jacquard looms, which utilized a similar principle with punched cards to create complex patterns.
Another commenter questions the practicality of learning to program with punch cards today, given the vastly different programming environment and the availability of modern tools. This sparked a brief discussion about the value of understanding historical computing methods for educational purposes and appreciating the evolution of technology.
A few comments briefly mention other historical computing artifacts, like paper tape, further highlighting the nostalgic appeal of these older technologies.
One commenter points out that the website doesn't allow downloading the created punch card images, which limits the usefulness of the tool beyond simply visualizing the punch card representation of text.
Overall, the comments demonstrate a blend of nostalgia for early computing technology, appreciation for the ingenuity of punch cards, and a bit of discussion about the educational merit of exploring these historical methods. There's little direct discussion about the virtual punch card creator itself, beyond one comment lamenting the lack of a download feature.