THE ANALOG THING

THE ANALOG THING
THE ANALOG THING without patch cables
Also known asTHAT
DeveloperAnabrid GmbH
ManufacturerAnabrid GmbH
Release date2021 (2021)
ConnectivityAnalog input and output, hybrid port, master and minion ports
PowerUSB type C
Dimensions24.1 x 20.3 x 3.7 centimetres
Weight630 grams
Marketing targetEducation, science and hobbyists
Websitethe-analog-thing.org

THE ANALOG THING, abbreviated THAT, is a small universal electronic analog computer produced by anabrid GmbH in Germany.[1][2]

Its production began in 2021. The system is mainly targeted at the markets of education and science.[3][4]

Overview

THE ANALOG THING is equipped with eight adjustable coefficients, five analog integrators, four summers, two multipliers, two comparators, and several inverters, resistor networks, capacitors, diodes, and Z-diodes.[5]

It has four analog output lines that can be connected to either an oscilloscope, an analog to digital converter or voltmeters.

The computer is programmed with patch cables connecting the components on a switching board. It can, additionally, be partly controlled from a digital computer via a hybrid port.

If an application requires more computing elements than are available on a single machine, two or more THATs can be coupled via dedicated interfaces referred to as MASTER and MINION ports.[3] The number of computers that can be linked with a MASTER-MINION chain is theoretically unlimited.[4]

Public Reception

In 2024, THE ANALOG THING received both the iF Design award[6] and the Red Dot design prize[7] for its construction. According to Red Dot "the circuit board-like appearance, versatile use and future-focused conception" are among its outstanding design principles.[7]

  • Closeup view of THE ANALOG THING
    Closeup view of THE ANALOG THING
  • Model of insulin-glucose homeostasis by Bolie simulated with THE ANALOG THING.
    Model of insulin-glucose homeostasis by Bolie simulated with THE ANALOG THING.
  • Two computers coupled via the MASTER/MINION interface.
    Two computers coupled via the MASTER/MINION interface.

References

  1. ^ Cass, Stephen (January 2024). "A Brand New Analog Computer: Go Beyond Digital with the THAT". IEEE Spectrum. 61 (1): 16–18. doi:10.1109/MSPEC.2024.10380472.
  2. ^ Ulmann, Bernd (3 March 2024). "Beyond zeros and ones – analog computing in the twenty-first century". International Journal of Parallel, Emergent and Distributed Systems. 39 (2): 139–151. doi:10.1080/17445760.2023.2296672.
  3. ^ a b Ulmann, Bernd; Koppel, Sven; Killat, Dirk (28 September 2021). "Open Hardware Analog Computer for Education – Design and Application". 2021 Kleinheubach Conference: 1–2. doi:10.23919/IEEECONF54431.2021.9598447. ISBN 978-3-948571-04-7.
  4. ^ a b Valens, Clemens (23 September 2024). "The Analog Thing - The Arduino of Analog Computing?". Elektor. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  5. ^ Ulmann, Bernd (2023). "Analog Computing for the 21st Century". arXiv:2309.03971 [cs.ET].
  6. ^ "iF Design - THE ANALOG THING". ifdesign.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Red Dot Design Award: THE ANALOG THING". www.red-dot.org. Retrieved 25 November 2024.