'The Writer' Automaton
0:05
One of the most remarkable realizations of cam technology is a device in the shape of a small boy.
One of the most remarkable realizations of cam technology is a device in the shape of a small boy.
0:15
It's perhaps the world's most astonishing surviving automaton.
It's perhaps the world's most astonishing surviving automaton.
0:28
What's on this card is a piece of writing
What's on this card is a piece of writing
0:33
made by a 240-year-old machine.
made by a 240-year-old machine.
0:39
One of my favourite machines, one of the most magnificent automata of the 18th century.
One of my favourite machines, one of the most magnificent automata of the 18th century.
0:45
It's this boy, this writer. He was built in Switzerland by Pierre Jacques-Hedroz, one of Switzerland's greatest clockmakers.
It's this boy, this writer. He was built in Switzerland by Pierre Jacques-Hedroz, one of Switzerland's greatest clockmakers.
0:59
And the aim was, I think, to mechanise reason and automate the passions.
And the aim was, I think, to mechanise reason and automate the passions.
1:07
Jacques-Hedroz was about 50 years old in the early 1770s when he designed and built this masterpiece.
Jacques-Hedroz was about 50 years old in the early 1770s when he designed and built this masterpiece.
1:19
Inside the boy are almost 6,000 parts.
Inside the boy are almost 6,000 parts.
1:26
What's astonishing is that every one of these crafted components has been refined and miniaturized
What's astonishing is that every one of these crafted components has been refined and miniaturized
1:34
to fit completely inside the body of the boy himself.
to fit completely inside the body of the boy himself.
1:43
What Jacques-Hedroz did was to use the technologies of homeostasis, of miniaturization, to build really a true automaton.
What Jacques-Hedroz did was to use the technologies of homeostasis, of miniaturization, to build really a true automaton.
1:54
Inside the little writer is all his source of energy and all the machinery that drives him.
Inside the little writer is all his source of energy and all the machinery that drives him.
2:02
He works on his own.
He works on his own.
2:19
Music At
Music At
2:42
his core is a great stack of cans.
his core is a great stack of cans.
2:51
As these cams move, three cam followers read their shaped edges and translate these into the movement of the boy's arm.
As these cams move, three cam followers read their shaped edges and translate these into the movement of the boy's arm.
3:11
Working together, the cams control every stroke of the quill pen and exactly how much pressure is applied to the paper
Working together, the cams control every stroke of the quill pen and exactly how much pressure is applied to the paper
3:21
so as to achieve beautiful, elegant and fluid writing.
so as to achieve beautiful, elegant and fluid writing.
3:35
With this sublime machine, Jacques-Hydroz had reverse engineered the very act of writing.
With this sublime machine, Jacques-Hydroz had reverse engineered the very act of writing.
3:51
But the mechanical boy contained one perhaps even more astonishing feature.
But the mechanical boy contained one perhaps even more astonishing feature.
3:58
The wheel that controlled the cams was made up of letters that could be removed and then replaced and reordered.
The wheel that controlled the cams was made up of letters that could be removed and then replaced and reordered.
4:10
These allowed the writer, in principle, to make any word and any sentence.
These allowed the writer, in principle, to make any word and any sentence.
4:17
In other words, it allowed the writer to be programmed.
In other words, it allowed the writer to be programmed.
4:27
This beautiful boy is thus a distant ancestor of the modern programmable computer.
This beautiful boy is thus a distant ancestor of the modern programmable computer.