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>> Somewhere on the continuum of abacus, slide rule. What's the computational era's equivalent? An HP-11, HP-12 series calculator? I have my Dad's wooden abacu
by slantyyz 11y ago
>> Somewhere on the continuum of abacus, slide rule. What's the computational era's equivalent? An HP-11, HP-12 series calculator?
I have my Dad's wooden abacus, which must be at least as old as I am (mid forties). It's obviously not Antiques Roadshow old, but as a child, I remember him using it for his bookkeeping instead of a calculator. He taught me how to use one, and as a kid, I got pretty quick at using it for simple arithmetic.
Of course, once tape calculators (and calculators in general) got cheaper, he stopped using it altogether. If I had kids, it's definitely something I would pass on.