Light Years Ahead | The 1969 Apollo Guidance Computer

Comments · 7.7K

• PH

  @philippebruno8039 · 5 years ago (edited)

  No fancy bells and whistles, just a simple deck of slides... But an outstanding and passionate communicator who can actually make you feel smart just by listening to him explaining complex things with simple illustrations. Highly recommended!

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• TE

  @TechnologyOZ · 5 years ago

  Thank you YouTube recommendations algorithm.

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• BR

  @brownajb · 5 years ago

  When this popped up on my recommended list, I thought that there was no way I’d sit and watch some guy drone on about the Apollo Guidance Computer for 80 minutes.  No way possible.  But I did watch the whole thing.  And I’ll give my boy his props:  Robert Willis is an excellent communicator, doing an outstanding job explaining a well-known but still arcane event.

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• RO

  @ross302ci · 2 years ago

  I love that this is a conference presentation in a room with maybe maybe a few dozen people, and now it's been viewed by millions. The fact that this fantastic lecture didn't have to exist in only a moment is one of the coolest things about the age we live in. It's a double-edged sword for sure, but I love it for stuff like this. You have a real gift for communicating, Robert!

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• KE

  @kevvywevvywoo · 4 years ago

  The joy for me in this talk is watching the expert clearly admiring and respecting the design of his forebears. His enthusiasm is infectious.

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• MA

  @Maria-hm4xm · 5 years ago

  As a programmer at NASA Houston from 1967 to 1973 I really enjoyed Roberts presentation. &nbsp;Brought back memories from a bygone age. &nbsp;His comment about programming in those days being like the wild wild west is very true. &nbsp;In the days before computer science degrees, if you had any computer knowledge, you were hired. &nbsp; <br>A math degree with two computer classes qualified me.

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• GR

  @grumblekin · 5 years ago

  This is the best thing that the algorithm has recommended this year.<br><br>Good job, YouTube

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• JO

  @johnsutherland168 · 3 years ago (edited)

  Having worked on Apollo at MIT/IL, this is an excellent presentation. &nbsp;Very well done. &nbsp;I should also note that while doing the AGC (Apollo Guidance Computer) programming, we had two types of simulations that we could run to test and validate the navigation software. &nbsp;One simulation was completely digital in nature and we ran those simulations on an IBM 360 computer. &nbsp;The second simulation was a real time hardware simulation done in a mock-up of the command module (CM) and the lunar excursion module (LEM). &nbsp;The astronauts would come and get their first training on the AGC at MIT/IL, then get further training in Houston.

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• MA

  @marearp · 5 years ago

  The Apollo Guidance Computer:<br>&quot;I need 55W and I flew the Apollo missions to the moon and back&quot;<br>My GTX 1080:<br>&quot;I consume 150W and Cyberpunk scares me&quot;

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• GE

  @georgefarr3906 · 3 years ago

  THis was an absolutely fantastic lecture. &nbsp;I’ve watched hours of Apollo footage and read dozens of books about the program and yet learned so much from this young man. &nbsp;I hope he writes a book because his research and thoughts need to be memorialized beyond YouTube. &nbsp;Bravo young man!

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• PE

  @petermurray2414 · 5 years ago

  When asked how to explain complicated scientific matters to the public, Einstein replied that no scientist knew what he was doing unless he could walk out on to the street and explain i t the first man he met. Robert Willis is an outstanding communicator and would please Einstein.

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• RO

  @robelengida6211 · 5 months ago

  Bonkers to think there are people who still think the moon lands were faked. Wow... Thanks so much. His passion was infectious.

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