A working computer made of matchboxes and beans.

It also learns (with a little human help).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stml/sets/72157622716067016/

"MENACE is a machine that plays noughts and crosses, built out of 304 
matchboxes. Each matchbox corresponds to one of the 304 board layouts that 
the opening player might face (there are actually 19,683 possible board 
layouts, but we only need to calculate the opening player's first four 
moves, and many are rotationally or reflectively identical). In turn, each 
matchbox contains a number of glass beads corresponding to each possible 
next move. When it is MENACE's turn to play, the operator simply selects the 
matchbox corresponding to the current state of play, shakes it, and opens it 
to see which move has been chosen. Each matchbox contains a small nook into 
which one bead falls-and MENACE plays in the square corresponding to that 
bead.
But what's really clever is that MENACE learns. Every time it wins a game, 
an additional bead is added to each matchbox played, corresponding to each 
winning move. Likewise, every time it loses, a bead corresponding to each 
losing move is removed. As a result, over time, MENACE becomes more likely 
to play moves that have previously resulted in wins and less likely to play 
moves that have resulted in losses.

Michie probably built the machine himself, although I haven't found any 
reports of this, and it may have been a thought experiment and a 
pen-and-paper calculation. In fact, while there are many simulation 
programmes for MENACE out there, I couldn't find a single actual machine.
So, in the best traditions of Heath Robinson and Charles Babbage, I built 
one."

DVH wrote:
> A working computer made of matchboxes and beans.
> 

Pssst. Wanna buy a harbour bridge?

> It also learns (with a little human help).
> 
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/stml/sets/72157622716067016/
> 
>

"B J Foster" <bjfoster@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message 
news:hcp2eh$sbp$3@bjf.motzarella.org...
> DVH wrote:
>> A working computer made of matchboxes and beans.
>>
>
> Pssst. Wanna buy a harbour bridge?

That depends on the price and size, but I'm willing to negotiate.

>
>> It also learns (with a little human help).
>>
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/stml/sets/72157622716067016/
>>

DVH wrote:
> "B J Foster" <bjfoster@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message 
> news:hcp2eh$sbp$3@bjf.motzarella.org...
>> DVH wrote:
>>> A working computer made of matchboxes and beans.
>>>
>> Pssst. Wanna buy a harbour bridge?
> 
> That depends on the price and size, but I'm willing to negotiate.

It originally cost 30,000 sterling but now the daily takings exceed that 
- and the pound has collapsed - what are you offering?

> 
>>> It also learns (with a little human help).
>>>
>>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/stml/sets/72157622716067016/
>>>
>

"B J Foster" <bjfoster@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message 
news:hcq4mr$fus$2@bjf.motzarella.org...
> DVH wrote:
>> "B J Foster" <bjfoster@yahoo.com.invalid> wrote in message 
>> news:hcp2eh$sbp$3@bjf.motzarella.org...
>>> DVH wrote:
>>>> A working computer made of matchboxes and beans.
>>>>
>>> Pssst. Wanna buy a harbour bridge?
>>
>> That depends on the price and size, but I'm willing to negotiate.
>
> It originally cost 30,000 sterling but now the daily takings exceed that - 
> and the pound has collapsed - what are you offering?

5p, bonny lad. I haven't even seen the goods yet.