16-year-old Makes Working Scientific Calculator in Minecraft

Could Minecraft be that little thing that teaches kids about logic? Maybe Jeb and co. should consider adding even simpler logic based building blocks, more akin to Lego's Mindstorm as an alternative to relays and switches.<p>I find it fascinating to think in 10-20 years many will be looking back fondly on how they learned to hack with an unassuming little game: Minecraft.

I am really afraid that although this 16-year old (I don't like the patronizing kid word) has made something of immense creativity and of intrinsic value, he'll face such a drastic world that limits a lot of creative potential by the idiosyncrasies of mature reality.<p>I really hope talented people like this guy be given full-throttle. They are the real capital, not the tools.

I think this would be one of the few cases to list video games on a college/job application. I'll be honest that I didn't watch all 10 minutes, but it seems like he's using some complex methods, especially for a 16 year old. Props to him, one hell of a hacker!

I watched the video all the way to the end, this is nothing short of amazing. Now I get why they call it 'creative mode'.

Well, the kid doesn't have to worry what to answer on a question about the most impressive thing he did if he decides to apply to YC someday.

Can a 'minecrafter' explain a little more please?<p>I know you get 1x1 blocks of wood/stone/etc. How do the pieces move? Are there simple on/off switches? Gunpowder + fire for wires?

See also: Working 8-bit CPU in Minecraft<p><a href="http://boingboing.net/2010/11/12/working-8-bit-cpu-in.html" rel="nofollow">http://boingboing.net/2010/11/12/working-8-bit-cpu-in.html</a>

Having tried my hand at building computing systems in Minecraft myself, I must say this is very impressive work.

Somebody get this kid a job!

Has anyone verified that this is in fact real? It seems like it would be rather easy to fake this.

Amazing kid, wonderful invention.

Why is it necessary to include the age in the title?

I honestly love seeing stuff like this -- it's really cool.<p>But part of me always wonders, "I wonder what this kid could've built if he had a more meaningful project in mind?"<p>I understand that you need to have a certain amount of "fun" before you can do "serious" things, but I can't help but feel a little disappointed that he didn't "dream bigger."<p>It's not really a criticism. This kid is probably really smart, but I wish it was easy to create environments for such people to really flourish to their full potential.

This is very very impressive, though I hope the kid's next project is some creative and useful applications rather than another Minecraft undertaking.