Random thought... before there was sw eating the world there was (analog) electricity eating the world. So many 20th c sensors basically produce a voltage signal. You don’t need an arduino etc to read them. An analog multimeter or oscilloscope will do. Any writing on this?
Conversation
Replying to
I'm not sure what kind of writing you're looking for. The Mechanical --> Electrical instrumentation switch over you mean?
1
2
Replying to
Yeah, I think it happened in the 1940s-50s once op-amps were invented. This is basically op-amps eating the world.
1
2
Replying to
I think it was before that (1920's or so), but can't find it exactly. Here's a 1920's control room with analog instrumentation:
1
2
I'm also reminded of the early use of chart recorders:
1
4
Weren’t op amps in the 60s? I recall this was what started Analog Devices just like the full wave rectifier was one of HPs first products. I see op amps as the next wave to just making technology smaller, more convenient, easier to build, etc.
1
Semiconductor version. There were vacuum tube versions before even if they weren’t called that.
1
1
Yeah I think the costs dropped dramatically and applications exploded


