
Making Money Flow: The MONIAC
About this video
A short demonstration of the MONIAC, Bill Phillips' hydro-mechanical economic computer, at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand museum. It shows how water flows model an economy's money flows.
Why it appears in the archive
Brought up as a charming example of analog and liquid computers simulating a national economy.
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From the Hacker News discussion
I believe one of the earliest applications incorporating this line of thought was MONIAC, the Monetary National Income Analogue Computer, which used water levels to model the economy [0]. There's a short youtube documentary on its history and operation. [1] [0] [LINK] [1] [VIDEO] [VIDEO] (shows operation of MONIAC)
Read original comment ↗And of course its always worth mentioning the MONIAC.. (Monetary National Income Analogue Computer) also known as the Phillips Hydraulic Computer [LINK] [VIDEO]
Read original comment ↗There was a neat liquid computer called the MONIAC used to model the national economic processes of the UK. Here's a video: [VIDEO] Edit: Oh it was mentioned in the paper!
Read original comment ↗This is exactly why MONIAC[0][1] was created in 1949. Not a real computer exactly - it simulates the entire system with water flow. [0] [LINK] [1] [VIDEO]
Read original comment ↗Here’s an analogue computer called the MONIAC from ~1949 that calculates monetary flow in an economy: [LINK] with a fairly naff video of it operating but captures the essence: [VIDEO] I like the COMPAQ branding added to it!
Read original comment ↗