Later On

I didn’t realize it, but there’s a serious project underway to build an actual working model of Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. You can, of course, help—not by donating money (yet), but by signing an on-line pledge of $10 if he goes ahead with it. Pledge here. Text of pledge:

Pledge “babbage”

“I will set up and run a non-profit organization dedicated to building the Analytical Engine but only if 10,000 people will donate $10/£10/€10 to fund the organization.”

— John Graham-Cumming (contact)

Deadline to sign up by: 31^st January 2011
3,882 people have signed up, 6118 more needed

More details
I will convert the Plan 28 web site (http://plan28.org/) to a non-profit organization whose goals will be:

1. To help digitize and make available in electronic form all of Charles Babbage’s notes and plans associated with the Difference Engine and Analytical Engine.

2. To fund the study of Babbage’s Analytical Engine plans to determine what best constitutes a complete design for the Engine.

3. To coordinate the building of a computer simulation of the Analytical Engine that shows its working in 3D with accurate physics.

4. To build the Analytical Engine and donate it to a museum in Great Britain for public display.

More info here.