Automatic Counting of Bacterial Cultures- A New Machine

A machine which solves the general problem of counting randomly placed objects of varying size on a surface is briefly described. It is able to accomplish this task by systematic discard of information. It is essentially a scanning device with a ``memory´´ in the form of a quartz ultrasonic delay line. A ``decision-making´´ element controls the discard of information and directs the counting action. The counting operation is accomplished in one second.