Non-electronic computers

[jp_bl_68]

I was reading xkcd today when I stumbled across this comic:






Is there a special name for the type of computer system he has built, i.e. a computer that requires no electricity or microchips?

Does anyone know of any other non-electrical computer systems other than an abacus?

 

[Pincho Paxton]

It takes a human to move the stuff around though, so it's still electrical. The turing machine is probably what you mean.

 

[Michael]

Babbage's Difference Engine?

 

[DPinBucks]

...Is there a special name for the type of computer system he has built, i.e. a computer that requires no electricity or microchips?

Does anyone know of any other non-electrical computer systems other than an abacus?

Yes, they're called adding machines, tabulators, slide rules, log tables, protein brains, etc.

Eg:

This

or

This