Untransistorized Digital Differential Analyzer? (Nov, 1956)
Untransistorized Digital Differential Analyzer?
The abacus has qualities much sought after in today’s electronic computers: ease and reliability of operation, low investment, and minimal maintenance. These are qualities found in the unique electronic digital computation equipment created by Litton Industries. The military and industrial applications for this equipment are many.
LITTON INDUSTRIES
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA
Plants and Laboratories in California, Maryland, Indiana and New YorkDIGITAL COMPUTERS AND CONTROLS – RADAR AND COUNTERMEASURES – INERTIAL GUIDANCE – MICROWAVE TOWER TUBES – PRECISION COMPONENTS – AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS – SERVO MECHANISMS – SPACE SIMULATION RESEARCH
It probably worked better because it did not use a Windows operating system.
Beware the Blue Bead of Death…
Actually, they’ve found a skilled user of an abacus can often beat somebody using a modern calculator which is why you’ll still find them used in the Far East. They also don’t die in the middle of exams when the battery goes dead. The slip stick is pretty much forgotten now, but it still had a good run.
http://www.math.twsu.ed…