Baseball bat and Babbage’s Analytical Engine: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Baseball bat — has part — Handle. A thin handle.
2. Step 2. Handle — is part of — Toothbrush. A plastic handle.
3. Step 3. Toothbrush — is made of — Plant fibre. The bristles were hog hair, later nylon.
4. Step 4. Plant fibre — is used in — Loom. Cloth is woven from threads spun from fibres.
5. Step 5. Loom — includes — Jacquard loom. A loom with punched cards.
6. Step 6. Jacquard loom — inspired — Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Babbage borrowed Jacquard’s punched cards directly for entering operations and data; Ada Lovelace compared the machine to the Jacquard loom.

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