Computing Physical Calculus

Client: Richard Pawson <rpawson@nakedobjects.org>

In the days when Cambridge innovators like Turing were still inventing the foundations of Computer Science, our department was known as the Mathematical Laboratory, offering a wide range of computation facilities implemented using mechanical devices. One impressive machine, the Differential Analyzer was able to solve calculus problems. The goal of this project is to create a digital working replica of the Differential Analyzer, which can be used both to illustrate the elegant operation of this device, and help students to gain an intuitive understanding of mathematical principles through the visualised behaviour.