The Paper Computer Unfolded: A Twenty-First Century Guide to the Bell Labs CARDIAC (CARDboard Illustrative Aid to Computation), the LMC (Little Man Computer), and the IPC (Instructo Paper Computer)

I honestly can't believe this exists. I recently, very much by accident, came across the concept of paper computers while searching for information to aid in teaching computer science concepts. In this search, I found out about CARDIAC and began searching for the manual to one as I figured I could make one myself from pictures online, but I was unable to find information on how it actually worked or images of the internal 'components' (I've since found an original kit on eBay). I have since become enamored with the topic of paper computers, but have been very disappointed with how little information there is online about the subject. Imagine my surprise when I decided to search 'CARDIAC bell labs' here on Amazon. This book is an absolute treasure trove of information about paper computers created for illustrating how computers work.I have been deeply inspired by the stories of the people who helped make these awesome teaching aids. I feel if we really want kids to understand computing and be able to take advantage of the opportunities created by the present tech boom, we have to go back to basics and really discipline ourselves to teach and learn deeply, rather than just creating another shiny app that just feeds a learner's desire to be entertained. I am deeply nostalgic for the days of BASIC and type-in code listings. Paper computers are an intriguing example of the spirit of the early days of computing. You can feel the author's excitement for the topic as you read. Fantastic.