• xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      “To contrast, the human brain apparently can’t remember a simple piece of information like not getting attached to their companion cube. I think we know who would be better at a party, the punchcard.”

  • flora_explora@beehaw.org
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    4 months ago

    Let’s say that we have a more recent micro SD card of 1 TB. So to contain the same information in a punch card (with a byte density of 80 byte/156 cm² = 0.512 byte/cm²), we would need a card of 512,820,512,820 cm². If I’m not mistaken that would be a punch card the size of 51 km²!! This is wild :O

    • Ing0R@feddit.de
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      4 months ago

      It absolutely is. A punch card represents a line of text, mostly in a programming language.

        • Ing0R@feddit.de
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          4 months ago

          In the 90s my dad showed me his stack of IBM compatible 12 bit per column, 80 column card from his time working at the university physics department’s computer in the 70s. He had no access anymore to card readers and just kept the cards for sentimental value.

          Most cards contain FORTRAN programs for the TR440 computer made by Telefunken.

          Sorry, I have no further proof. :)

  • CountVon@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago

    One of my grandfathers worked for a telephone company before he passed. That man was an absolute pack rat, he wouldn’t throw anything away. So naturally he had boxes and boxes of punch cards in this basement. I guess they were being thrown out when his employer upgraded to machines that didn’t need punch cards, so he snagged those to use as note paper. I will say, they were great for taking notes. Nice sturdy card stock, and the perfect dimensions for making a shopping list or the like.