The Evolution of Calculators
Ethan
Calculations Through Time
Clay Tablets
12000-4000 BC Sumerians kept track of commercial transactions on clay tablets. The Sumerians were the first known civilization and it is believed this system was the precursor for the calculator.
Abacus
3000 BC Babylonians create an abacus following the Sumerians. The abacus would spread throughout Egypt, Greece, Persia and Asia.
Napier's Bones
1612 AD John Napier creates Napier’s Bones for calculating multiplication equations for the first nine multiples of a number.
Calculating Clock
1623 AD William (Wilhelm) Schickard designs the first calculator to assist in multiplication known as the “Calculating Clock." The original machine created by Schikard was destroyed in a fire. The designs were lost and it wasn't until 1957 that a replica of Schickard's "Calculating Clock" was made.
Pascaline
1642 AD Blaise Pascal creates the first mechanical gear driven adding machine called the Pascaline or Arithmatique. He was also the author of Pascal's Law which was invaluable in the field of hydraulics.
Stepped Reckoner
1674 AD Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz creates Stepped Reckoner. The device could add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
Arithmometer
1820 AD Charles Xavier Thomas invents the Arithmometer that becomes the first mass produced calculator
Anita Mk VII & Anita Mk 8
1961 AD First electronic calculators invented: Anita MK VII and Anita MK8
Mathatron and Sharp CS10A
1963 AD First commercial calculators released for public sale includes the Mathatron and Sharp CS10A.