A new book about the history of the pocket calculator

[jonmoore]

(05-30-2023 08:20 AM)Paul Dale Wrote:  

(05-29-2023 10:55 PM)Steve Simpkin Wrote:  …, helped build the atomic bomb, …

Interesting, I wonder what model pocket calculator existed in the early - mid 1940s?


Pauli

The clue was here:

Quote:transports readers from the nascent economies of the ancient world to World War II, where a Jewish engineer calculated for his life at Buchenwald, and into the technological arms race that led to the first affordable electronic pocket calculators

https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibiti...ulator.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curta

A fascinating example of precision engineering, although having read through the both articles it appears Curt Herzstark wasn't liberated until April of 1945. Whatever the specifics, I suspect the author/publisher/pr are simply attempting to illustrate a timeline from the abacus to the electronic pocket calculator, which will no doubt mention e.g. Pascal, Babbage and Turing on the journey, even though the milestone achievements of those individuals weren't of the pocket variety.