Because that's the point where you take things that don't compute, and make something that computes.

>>Because that's the point where you take things that don't compute, and make something that computes.

Good point but I didn't get it quite right. What is your definition of "things that compute"? I am curious.

A device that can use a mathematical process to figure something out.

A single transistor definitely doesn't compute. A single gate? Eh, not really.

A design with a couple latches and an adder that can perform SUBLEQ? Yeah that computes if you attach a ram.

A non-turing-complete pipeline of math functions? Yes, that computes, though why make that when it takes more gates than a microprocessor needs.

You can make a razor blade diode or a pyrite diode, so I wonder if there's some way to make a make a transistor out of household junk...

Jeri Ellsworth has built working transistors at home.

Point contact germanium BJT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmotkjMSKnI

Etched silicon FET: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdcKwOo7dmM

The rusty razorblade + pin point contact diode doesn't need anything special because it's a Schottky diode, with a metal/N-type semiconductor junction. If you probe lots of places you can find an N-type region where the dopant is random impurities. But the transistor needs both N and P-type regions, so I don't see any way to build one with common junk. Jeri's point contact example works by diffusing phosphorus from phosphor bronze into commercially produced N-type germanium using a high current to heat it. Phosphor bronze is arguably household junk but I don't think germanium diodes are.

I wouldn't mind actually. That toaster thing was interesting.