The electronic calculator is a small, portable electronic device used to perform operations ranging from basic arithmetic to complex mathematics. The first electronic calculator was developed in the 1960s and first became available to the public during the 1970s. There are a wide range of calculators, such as those which perform basic functions, scientific calculators, graphing calculators and business calculators.
The first known tools used to aid arithmetic calculations were bones and pebbles which were moved within grooves made in the ground. Based on this the Abacus was developed, also known as a counting frame, is a calculating tool which was used across Europe, China and Russia before the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. The abacus can still be seen used today by some merchants and traders. This is now typically made from a bamboo and wire frame with sliding beads. The Abacus dates back to the 5th Century and was first seen being used by Ancient Greek Historian, Herodotus.
The Slide Rule, developed by William Oughtred) is another tool which was used to perform calculations before the invention of the electronic calculator. The slide rule, also known as a slipstick, is used primarily for multiplication and division, however can also perform functions such as square roots, exponents, trigonometry and logarithms. The development of the slide rule was based off this idea of logarithms itself, which was discovered by John Napier, inventor of Napier's Bones. The sliding element of the slide rule shows the relationships between different sets of numbers and was adopted by NASA engineers to aid with the construction of rockets and plan the Apollo 11 moon mission in 1970. This meant there was little risk of miscalculation.
Napier's Bones is a manually-operated calculating device created by John Napier based on his discovery of logarithms, and is typically used for calculations of products and quotients of numbers. This method of calculation was used by many historical figures, such as Isaac Newton and Charles Babbage, who recommended the tool for repetitive calculations. It has also been used by mariners and military surveyors for navigation purposes. John Napier also studied the occult (mystical, supernatural or magical powers, practices and phenomena) which gained him a reputation as a Wizard. He also kept a pet black cockerel which people thought was his 'familiar' - a supernatural being which assisted witches and wizards in their magical practice.
Guinness World Record - Fastest Human Calculator.
On 27th April 2000, Scott Flansburg from Pheonix, USA, correctly added a randomly selected two-digit number (38) to itself 36 times in 15 seconds without the use of a calculator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGULqoEP5TE
During the 1970s, the electronic calculator was further developed in creating a calculator watch. The Casio calculator watch was a digital watch which featured buttons on the watch face for use with a built-in calculator function. Various models of these were developed, some which could even store data such as appointments, addresses, names and phone numbers. One model even had a built-in TV and VCR remote control feature.
This watch appeared a lot within popular culture and was typically used by casing directors to put the 'finishing touches' on a nerdy character. For example, Marty McFly from Back to The Future, Dennis Nedry (computer programmer from Jurassic Park), Mr. Bean and Napoleon Dynamite.
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