Re: Not Just the US With Education Problems

In article <g2f2bi$87q$4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Paul J Gans <gans@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Walter Bushell <proto@xxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <6ask8qF38sc6eU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"alwaysaskingquestions" <alwaysaskingquestions@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Some of it may have to do with personal inclination - I have always been
fascinated with both puzzles in general and with knowing how things work;
in
my first job - just before the introduction of desktop calculators - I had
to learn how to use a slide rule and was thought it was a fantastic
invention.

Just how old are you. Frieden calculators from the styling my predate
WWII and maybe I.

The Friden calculator was in major use up through 1970. I recall
doing the calculations for a paper on one in that year.

I did a least squares fit in 1967 on one. I think it took a week or two.

Fridens had 10 digit keyboards and the high end models could
automatically extract square roots of 20 digit numbers.

See <http://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com/fridenstw.html> for
a view of a late model.

The mechanical calculator is arguably the finest example of the
mechanical engineer's art. They were enormously complex
instruments powered by an electric motor. The insides were
a three dimensional mass of gears, levers, cams, and whatnots.
The reference above shows some "inside" shots.

The pocket calculator killed them off fairly quickly.

Cheaper, faster and smaller will win every time. Not to mention quieter.
Also, they quickly became more capable.

--
What is done in the heat of battle is (normatively) judged
by different standards than what is leisurely planned in
comfortable conference rooms.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Not Just the US With Education Problems
    ... Paul J Gans wrote: ... The Friden calculator was in major use up through 1970. ... The mechanical calculator is arguably the finest example of the ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Not Just the US With Education Problems
    ... The Friden calculator was in major use up through 1970. ... Fridens had 10 digit keyboards and the high end models could ... The mechanical calculator is arguably the finest example of the ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: For Andrew Breen, plasma
    ... :>> approximate calculation in your head, so as to retain the order of ... :> Did any of y'all ever use a Curta calculator? ... Jesus, Keith, you must be SERIOUSLY old! ... lots of inputs with small incremental changes the mechanical calculator ...
    (sci.military.naval)
  • Calculator Tool Online - Find weight on other Planets
    ... Temperature Calculator ... Pressure Calculator ... Mechanical calculator ... Electrical Engineering Calculator ...
    (sci.astro)