Soviet "Setun" - the only in the world of computer-based ternary code Bashny.Net

Soviet engineers often went to other putyami

In 1959, scientists from Moscow State University under the direction of Nicholas Brusentseva developed the first and only computer-based ternary logic. It was called "Setun". Other computers on the basis of ternary code and there was not.

The idea used for computing ternary system expressed as early as the 13th century Italian mathematician Fibonacci. He formulated and decided "weighing problem", better known as Bache-Mendeleev if you can put weights only on one scale, it is more convenient, faster and more economical to do calculations in the binary system, and if you can put weights on both cups, then better to resort to the ternary system.

Feature ternary numeral system that tselnochislennoe base it is three. This means that all the set of integers can be written with just three digits, such as 0, 1, 2, 10, 11, 12 and so on. 10 in this case corresponds to number 3 of us familiar decimal system.

Most modern computers use a binary system where the digit is a power of two. Brusentsev and his team went a different way - in their car category was equal degree three. When the machine is used ternary two-bit code. The units were not bits and trityl (i.e. not 0 and 1, and 0, 1 and 2). The minimum unit, which worked directly with the memory of "Setun" was Treiten equal to six tritium (corresponding to about 9, 5 bits in the modern binary representation). For the "Setun" even developed its own programming language - DSSP.

By modern standards "Setun" was not a powerful computer: processor clock speed he had a total of 200 kHz. But in 1959, when the first prototypes were created only computers and scientists have not even agreed on how many bits in a byte is, this car was a remarkable achievement. She needed to process approximately 1, 5 times less than the total additions than the computer with the binary system for the same problem and the same time. So that it can operate in one, five times faster. Encode also could be longer.

But the Soviet Union had made a total of 46 such machines, 30 of which gave institutions across the country to solve scientific and engineering problems of medium complexity. Then issue machine has stopped, in spite of the fact that the working prototype had almost no disadvantages. The creator of the machine Brusentsev later said:

"Setun" prevents people from thinking inert, who held senior management positions ».

Apparently, the officials felt that the maintenance of the machine will leave a lot of money. But the car was so simple that it was not required to serve. However, "those who choked" Setun ", scattered it across the country." Thus, a unique computer crushed bureaucrats.

According Brusentseva, many countries are now trying to create a ternary computer, but all attempts are unsuccessful, people are so used to the binary logic that it is difficult to master threefold. However, it is a moot point: unlikely all these years no one thought of how to make such computer hardware. And if in the whole world in the computer industry are the binary system, and ternary still no one moved, it may be necessary in this and no.

via factroom.ru