Chinese Announce First Hybrid Computer: Accordinghinese news service, the Pekingadio plant has successfully designed and manufactured theodel "combination modulation" electronic computer, the first of its kind in China. By combining the merits of both "modulation" and digital computers, the computer can be used in scientific research, national defense, automation and other fields. The computer consists of two main machines anduxiliaryplus input/output operational amplifiers.
5 May 75
Comment: Theodel computer as described by the Chinese appears toybrid system, the first such computer system to be openly announced by the Chinese. Hybrid computers, which may consist of interconnected analog and digital computers or analog computers with digital logic, have been used for many years in the simulation of dynamic systems particularly those developed for military and space applications. They offer the combination of analog computer speed and digital computerand flexibility and can handle system simulation problems far more effectively than digital computers alone. The Chinese system appears to be quite extensive although the number of operational amplifiers is much too high and probably is in error.
Very little information has been available regarding Chinese analog computer developments since the Cultural Revolution. Visitors to the Peking Radio Plantnm did observe analog computers being built including models which were not known prior to the Cultural Revolution. Although practically all computer installations revealed by the Chinese in recent years have been digital machines, it is believed that analog and hybrid computers are still in widespread use, especially in defense-related developments.
ay 75
Original document.
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