Twisted rope skeins and Babbage’s Analytical Engine: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Twisted rope skeins — is part of — Catapult. Twisted skeins store energy.
2. Step 2. Catapult — has part — Wooden frame. The base.
3. Step 3. Wooden frame — is part of — Warp-weighted loom. Two uprights and a beam.
4. Step 4. Warp-weighted loom — is a kind of — Loom. An ancient loom.
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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