Soviet Ternary Computing

[Týsköll]

A ternary computer, also called trinary computer, is one that uses ternary logic (i.e., base 3) instead of the more common binary system (i.e., base 2) in its calculations. Ternary computers uses trits, instead of binary bits.
Ternary Computer - Wiki

Setun (Russian: Сетунь) was a computer developed in 1958 at Moscow State University. It was built under the leadership of Sergei Sobolev and Nikolay Brusentsov.
Setun - 1958

Ohhh those Russians.

Donald Knuth argues that they will be brought back into development in the future to take advantage of ternary logic's elegance and efficiency. One possible way this could happen is by combining an optical computer with the ternary logic system. A ternary computer using fiber optics could use dark as 0 and two orthogonal polarizations of light as +1 and −1.

[Alias]

That's something new...
Imagine what other technologies they have.

[Týsköll]

That's something new...
Imagine what other technologies they have.

Or had.
Yeah there's rabbit holes of soviet era research and tech to ponder upon.

[Dave]

That's something new...
Imagine what other technologies they have.

Or had.
Yeah there's rabbit holes of soviet era research and tech to ponder upon.

Stalin's Gorilla Army of Ape-men soldiers. Muahahahah

Saw one once. But, it was in the US, and it was under the control of German Scientists.

Stood about six feet tall. Yep, mind blower. This was in 1990. AT a university, inside a secure location, inside an other secure location.... on campus.

Def. something to see.

~Dave

[Caylus Ark]

By today's standards, would this thing still be impressive?