An interactive turning/post/mixed machine simulator

An interactive system has been developed which makes it convenient to prepare, execute, and modify programs for Turing, Post, or mixed machines. The system runs on a Datapoint 2200 intelligent terminal with CRT display, keyboard, and dual tape cassette drives. Machine type, legal symbols, program or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:SIGCSE bulletin 1976-06, Vol.8 (2), p.36-40
Main Authors: McDaneld, T. G., Schweppe, E. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:An interactive system has been developed which makes it convenient to prepare, execute, and modify programs for Turing, Post, or mixed machines. The system runs on a Datapoint 2200 intelligent terminal with CRT display, keyboard, and dual tape cassette drives. Machine type, legal symbols, program or rules, 'tape' contents, and other initial parameters are input from the keyboard and shown on the display. During 'execution' the sixty-four characters about the 'read head' are also shown on the display and the speed of the execution can be dynamically modified (including single-stepping) or interrupted. Tape cassettes are used to make the 'tape' of the machine effectively infinite relative to its speed. Such pedagogical simulators should increase understanding and/or reduce frustration for students being introduced to these theoretical machines. They can also be used to verify moderately complex computations with such machines. This paper deals with the organization, utilization, and possible extensions of the system.
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/382220.382468