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General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on November 12, 2009, 17:57

Title: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: sam on November 12, 2009, 17:57

http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/11/1112abacus-beats-calculator

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Rik on November 12, 2009, 18:09

Clive still uses one  ;D

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Simon on November 12, 2009, 18:18

They were great at school!  :D

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2009, 19:08

We used to use slide rules too!  But my favourite was the mechanical calculator made in Italy by a company called Monroe.  When making a calculation it would bounce up and down on the desk like something demented.  Then we had an Anita electronic calculator which was the size of a 25" CRT TV set!  How times have changed! 

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Simon on November 12, 2009, 19:19

Yup, and when did you start using paper instead of slate?   :devil:

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Rik on November 12, 2009, 19:21

Slide rules were great.  :thumbs:

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Simon on November 12, 2009, 19:24

They were, but I never understood them.   :dunno:

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Rik on November 12, 2009, 19:26

I loved using them, it felt so adult. :)

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2009, 19:40

Me too Rik!  A wondrous tool.   :D

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Simon on November 12, 2009, 19:41

I never really understood what they were for.   :icon_dunce:

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2009, 19:48

You could make calculations with them by just sliding the various inset rulers around.  All very clever. They were quicker than using log tables.  Whatever happened to log tables?   

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: sam on November 12, 2009, 21:40

I still use log tables occasionally, but most of the time I just use logarithms to visualise large ranges of data on graphs.

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Clive on November 12, 2009, 21:49

I've probably forgotten how to use them now.   :)x  Shame that technology changes so rapidly. 

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Rik on November 13, 2009, 10:12

Slide rules were just moving log tables.

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Simon on November 13, 2009, 10:30

I never understood either!  ;D

Title: Re: Nov 12, 1946: The Abacus Proves Its Might
Post by: Rik on November 13, 2009, 10:31

You didn't have to reaally, you just had to know how to use them. :)