Jody says:

>    I think that calling early digitally controlled textile
> looms and pianos "computers" to be quite an exaggeration.
> However its clear that the underpinnings of "digital control"
> started evolving a long time ago (the looms _ARE_ given credit
> in my computer textbooks).

Right on. The distinction between "computers" and "digital machines"
hinges on control structures (loops, if-then-else) and the keeping of "state
information" external to the program that can be tested by the program.

Though, I admit, it gets fuzzy when you ask if a Jukebox that plays 3 tunes
for a Quarter maintains and tests external "state". And didn't Link have
"loops"?

Marc Kaufman