How many computers are there in our household, I wondered today. But before you start reading, make a quick guess.
Let’s start with the obvious ones: computers with a big screen, keyboard an mouse. Let me see, I have an office machine (iMac G5), my wife has an iBook. Then there’s also a MacMini, that isn’t doing anything at the moment. And an older G4 Power PC that is used for filmcapture from 8mm. At the same location a dedicated editing computer, which has 4 processors. So let’s count this together. 5 or 8, depending on how you count. But for the sake of the argument I have to define what a computer is. Hopping over to Wikipedia, I learn that

A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions.

I then take the freedom of defining

A Computer (as opposed to computer) is a set of machines, that looks like a box, has a keyboard and a mouse. Or at least a screen. Or some other sort of input.

O.K. – I shouldn’t write encyclopedias. Anyway, back to beancounting. Let’s look at all the components of each “Computer”, and see that there are a couple of computers inside the Computer. Lucky guess: A graphics processor, a soundprocessor, a processor each in the mouse and keyboard, a processor in each harddisk, a processor for all the cables that plug into the rear of the Computer, and very likely a chip that makes sure that the computer slows down over time, a processor to regulate the fans, a processor for… I give up. Let’s say 10 computers go into each Computer. 20 on a G5.

This means in the office there are about 60 computers. But hey, wait – there’s two printers – one is a fancy one with big display, ink writing, and some functions one will never find out about. Then there’s a robot for making DVDs. There’s 3 small video cameras, and 1 proper. That should be at least 43 more computers. The phones also have at least 2 chips each, so this totals to 107 computers inside those 30 square meters. Oops – forgot the alarm with display and several components. 10 more computers.

117 and counting

Next I go to my car. With me goes an iPod (3 chips?), mobile (that’s a rather advanced one, 5 chips?) and a GPS (at least 4 chips). Our car is almost 10 years old now, so no chips in those keys. The car has probably some sort of chip in the motor, and maybe 2 in the dashboard. The radio would have one. Now me at about 16 computers are travelling home.

I get into the hallway – and there isn’t a single chip I can think of there. Good.

No, there is the ASDL modem – 3 chips – and the IP phone converter – 3 chips – plus a phone with display – 2 chips. Makes 8. Add my wife’s newish mobile, and we’re up to 12.
Kitchen is next. Fridgefreezer has a display and controls the temperature evenly. 4 chips. Cooker has also some fancyish features, 3 chips, wild guess. The microwave is an elder model, so no more than a single chip there. A little digital thermometer with display. 1 chip. Total 9 chips.

150

Living room has a stereo with display, 3 chips. A huge box full of toys, some of them electronic. 25 chips. And I just come to think that I wear a digital watch, 2 chips. Two electronic, digital timers for the lights. 2 chips. Summasumarum 32 chips.

TV room has a TV, but that one has come of age, so let’s say 3 chips there. DVD player, 5 chips. VCR, 4 chips. 4 remote controls, each with 2 chips. A little electronic piano, 3 chips. 23 total.

The private rooms are just that, and won’t add to the count. Well, let’s add 10 for safety.

215. Time to go downstairs.

Already as a pre-teen, I loved taking things apart – much to the dismay of my father who missed a football match, due to a new-bought but son-operated TV. Lots of gear in my room, in other words. Without getting into details, I suppose that between a couple of old mobile phones, a dusty Windows XP machine, some chargers and power tools, there must be at least 20 chips in that room. Add the next-room waching- and drying machines and the central heater, and the lower part of the building has 24 digital habitants.

And the grand total is 239 chips. 4 people makes 60 each – though I might be overrepresentative. Who-ho!

And how many chips do you come up with?