It's an analog computer. Analog computers have quite a history. The US Navy used them for aiming the guns on battleships, etc. for a long time. WW2 bombsights, etc. Another example is the remote aiming of the guns on the B-29.
Another famous example:
http://museum.mit.edu/150/22
Computers went from people(title of person) > mechanical (analog) > electrical (analog) > electrical (digital)
Another famous example:
http://museum.mit.edu/150/22
Computers went from people(title of person) > mechanical (analog) > electrical (analog) > electrical (digital)
If only you knew how bad things really are.