Survival Computation

F

fujita yuji

Joined
Jul 12, 2008
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Dependency on hi-tech infrastructure is gaining day by day.
Once there was a time when we did computation by ourselves, by our hands or within our brains.
But today I need a computer to do any kind of computation.
Things are not limited to computation that any kind of communication depends on it;
but I do not talk about communications this time, let me concentrate on computation this time.

How do you compute in case of power shutdown?

I tell you, this is for survival computation; a good old sliderule.:D

2009.06.29.R0018784.JPG


I'm quite serious. It is a "space survival tool" as you can see it in the movie "Apollo 13".
It's quite convenient when multiplying identical value for many times.
Anybody else loves sliderule?
 
Ahhh! Sliderules make me break out in hives. They remind me of being an engineering student a thousand years ago (pre computers). Nowadays, I much prefer computers or calculators. I could probably still operate a sliderule if I had to, but it would hurt me to do so.
 
dawsonbob said:
Ahhh! Sliderules make me break out in hives. They remind me of being an engineering student a thousand years ago (pre computers). Nowadays, I much prefer computers or calculators. I could probably still operate a sliderule if I had to, but it would hurt me to do so.
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You're right.
But it has good old wisdom on it and I love it.

Carolina River Rat said:
I don't think I've ever held one of the damn things. What is that archaic device?
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This thing has "logarithmic scale" on it and can do multiply/devide operation
by sliding inner ruler and cursor. It's called "slide rule".
There are many tips you can find by googling by it's name.
 
Pffft....that's too fancy, this is all you need...

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:D

I've been to places where they still used an abacus in the shops, at least as of 10 years or so ago.
 
fujita yuji said:
You're right.
But it has good old wisdom on it and I love it.
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You're right, of course, fujita. It does still have wisdom and power that many people don't understand nowadays. While they were commonplace for solving math problems at one time, I doubt that many people now know how to use one. I, for one, have never regretted the invention of the calculator and the computer. Unfortunately, that's a double edged sword, in that I'm now dependent upon them. If I had to go back to my old sliderules (which I still have, somewhere), I would hate it.
 
I called my dad (retired engineer) and he has one!!! I'm gonna go pick it up tomorrow and see if I can figger it out. That abacus is another thing that's always amazed me. Saw an old Chinese woman running a shop in Vicenza, Italy, of all damn places use one of the things and she figured stuff up at near light speed with it.
 
CCR, if you learn to operate it, you'll be amazed at the things you can do. But I have to say that computers are a lot faster and easier. If you do get it, please keep it at least 2,000 miles away from me: I still shudder at the memory of having to use them.
 
I used to have my dad's sliderule lost it in high school. The abacus is faster in good hands than an electronic calculator.
 
dawsonbob said:
CCR, if you learn to operate it, you'll be amazed at the things you can do. But I have to say that computers are a lot faster and easier. If you do get it, please keep it at least 2,000 miles away from me: I still shudder at the memory of having to use them.
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I think we're a safe distance apart right now, and I have no plans to visit the far coast anytime soon.:D
 
If the SHTF, why am I doing complex calculatioins? And why wouldn't I have access to a solar powered calculator? Plus, we're dependent on calculators like our dads were dependent on slide rules and our grandfathers were dependent on that abacus. The real question, I think, is does doing these calculations net us anything real? What do we NEED that is a product of these calculations?
 
Absolutely, BlackHills. :thumbup:
with abacus and slide rule, we can do all kind of computation.
They are like the knife and the fire kit, aren't they?
 
wildmike said:
The abacus is faster in good hands than an electronic calculator.
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While I believe that's true in many respects, it's not as convenient for me as my Mac. I'm a commercial artist, and most of the programs that I use will do all the math I require right in the program as I'm working. I'm used to that now. It's much faster than switching to an abacus or sliderule.
 
Shotgun, that I must contest.
What we need is not a product.
What we need is minimal component and related wisdom to restore civilisation.
 
dawsonbob said:
While I believe that's true in many respects, it's not as convenient for me as my Mac. I'm a commercial artist, and most of the programs that I use will do all the math I require right in the program as I'm working. I'm used to that now. It's much faster than switching to an abacus or sliderule.
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Hey dawsonbob, a Bic is faster and easier than bow drill fire, but many of us choose to learn bow drill fire. And I don't think the OP is suggesting using a slide rule instead of your computer. It's good (and interesting) to know both.

I've always wanted to learn how to use an abacus. One day I will. :thumbup:
The cool thing about an abacus is you could make one with stuff you found in the woods.

Why you would want one in the bush is another matter. :confused: :D

Doc
 
Hi, Doc,

I understand what the OP was saying, and I agree with him. The thing is, I already know -- from long experience -- how to use a sliderule, and they don't amuse me. A bowdrill, on the other hand, does. I still play with my bow drills (there's one lying not three feet from me) for amusement and practice ... but I always carry a Bic, too.

I agree about the Abacus: they're pretty cool, although, like you, I don't know why I would need one in the bush.

Best,

Bob
 
One of the neat things about children once they have mastered the ability to manipulate symbols is that one can get them learning about computation anywhere. :-e
 
Let me confess that I belong to electronic calculator generation and never knew about sliderule until recently.
Maybe thats why using it is amazing to me.
It's as amazing as sleeping in snow cave.
 
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