The Story Of Calculating Machines

Calculating has been important for science, industry, and commerce from the earliest times to the present day. The word calculate is derived from the Latin calculus, or "little stone", referring to the ancient practice of using stones to perform calculations. Since then, more sophisticated devices have been invented to perform the complex calculations demanded by the advancement of science and technology.

Let's take a look at the revolution of calculating machines from 2700 BC all the way till today...

In 2700 BC:

The abacus is invented in Sumer (present-day Iraq) and is soon widespread. Till this day, abacus enrichment lessons are popular among children to help develop their mental sums. The abacus is a very simple tool to use as it can be easily understood from the image below.

In 100 BC:

The Antikythera Mechanism is an early Greek device used to calculate astronomical positions. It functions via a complex clockwork mechanism made of bronze gears. The device was first found at an archaeological dive trip 45 m deep in the waters near the Greek island of Antikythera which is how this device got its name.

In 1617:

This calculating machine, called Napier's Bones, was invented by John Napier. This set of inscribe rods or "bones" provides a quick way of multiplying or dividing large numbers. To learn more about how this machine works, read about it here.

In 1630:

Parts of a slide rule

English mathematician William Oughtred invented the slide rule to multiply, divide and even calculate roots and logarithms! It was the most popular calculating tool used by scientists and engineers before the advent of the pocket calculator.

In 1642:

The Pascaline was the first successful mechanical calculator. It was invented by Blaise Pascal. This calculating machine was capable of adding and subtracting two numbers directly and performing multiplications and divisions through repeated addition or subtraction.

In 1801:

The Jacquard loom was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard. It is controlled by cards with punched holes, a system later adopted by early computers. It helped reduce the complexity of producing textiles with complex patterns. This machine was an important step in the advancements of computing world. More about its impact on the computing world can be read here.

In 1820:

Thomas de Colmar invented the Arithmometer. It was built as the first commercially successful mechanical calculating machine. Its sturdy design, accuracy and affordability made it reliable enough to be used daily in an office environment.

In 1822:

This majestic looking machine is known as the Babbage's Difference Engine, invented by Charles Babbage to overcome human error in compiling numerical tables. It uses the method of divided differences to tabulate polynomial functions.

Babbage's Difference Engine made out of Lego!

In 1889:

The electronic tabulating machine, known as Hollerith tabulator, was invented by Herman Hollerith in the USA and is the first device to use punched cards to store data rather than control a process.

In 1939:

The Bombe was based on a Polish design and was first built in Britain, by Alan Turing, during World War II to decipher codes produced by the Germans using the Enigma machine. If all of these sound familiar to you, it is because this machine was featured heavily in the movie - The Imitation Game.

In the 1960s:

Electronic desktop calculators emerged in the 1960s with the invention of the transistor. Pocket calculators like the one in the above image soon followed.

In the 1970s:

With the invention of microprocessor chips, it allowed for integrated circuits containing thousands of transistors to be commercially available for use in computers. This allowed for calculators in decrease in size and cost. By the end of the decade, calculator prices had reduced to a point where a basic calculator was affordable to most and common in schools and offices.

From 1980s - Present Day:

The microcomputer revolution took off in the 1980s as personal computers became smaller, more powerful and more affordable. The above image shows an early Apple computer. Computers are now becoming more and more powerful in processing information and churning useful and applicable results for researchers. It is an imperative tool in helping humans calculate at the speed of light and without us having to rack our brains much. Its usefulness is infinite if used correctly.

With technology improving day by day, year by year, who knows maybe down the road, another machine will takeover the computer as the one to rule them all... When that day comes, will you be the one who invented it?