1920s Radial Planimeter Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-09-08 | A K+E Radial Planimeter, from 1920s. It measures the average radius of a roughly circular shape!
This is episode 76 of my video series about old calculating devices.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#planimetriaA higher homotopy group for digital imagesChris Staecker2024-01-06 | A research talk at the Joint Math Meetings 2024, AMS Special Session on Discrete Homotopy Theory. January 5, 2024, in San Francisco.The Curta Calculator (full documentary) Review / How ToChris Staecker2024-01-01 | This is a super-edit of my "12 Days of Curtsmas" series, cut into a single episode. No new content here. I suppose this is episode 79 of my video series about old calculating devices.
This is a Curta Type I, built in 1952. Eternal thanks to the person who gave me the Curta.
"Gibson's Book" is "Pattern Recognition", 2003.Curta Mailbag! 12 Days of Curtsmas 11Chris Staecker2023-12-23 | 12 Days of Curtsmas Chapter 11: Variations & Marketing
This is a Curta Type I, built in 1952. Thanks as always to the person who gave me the Curta.
Jingle bells sound from http://www.freesoundslibrary.com, CC-BY-4.0Rallying with the Curta. 12 Days of Curtsmas 8Chris Staecker2023-12-17 | 12 Days of Curtsmas Chapter 8: Road Rallying with the Curta.
Jingle bells sound from http://www.freesoundslibrary.com, CC-BY-4.0Math Props: the Curta Calculator in Gibsons Pattern RecognitionChris Staecker2023-12-15 | 12 Days of Curtsmas Chapter 6: Gibson's Pattern Recognition
It's a math props episode!
This is a Curta Type I, built in 1952. Stay tuned for episodes every other day, December 3 - 25. Thanks as always to the person who gave me the Curta.
Chapter 11 (December 23) will be a mailbag episode! So please ask questions, etc.
These are a few moments from the life story of Curt Herzstark, inventor of the Curta. My main source is the interview by Erwin Tomash available here: https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/107359
Footage is a Curta Type I, built in 1952. Stay tuned for episodes every other day, December 3 - 25. Thanks as always to the person who gave me the Curta.
Chapter 11 (December 23) will be a mailbag episode! So please ask questions, etc.
Curta case photo by Wikimedia user Nol Aders, CC-BY-SA-3.0 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curta-99.jpgThe Stepped Drum Mechanism. 12 Days of Curtsmas 3Chris Staecker2023-12-07 | 12 Days of Curtsmas Chapter 3: The Stepped Drum Mechanism
The basic arithmetic in the Curta is performed by the Stepped Drum, also called the Leibniz Wheel or Leibniz Drum.
This is a Curta Type I, built in 1952. Stay tuned for episodes every other day, December 3 - 25. Thanks as always to the person who gave me the Curta.
Chapter 11 (December 23) will be a mailbag episode! So please ask questions, etc.
Steve Jobs photo by Joi Ito, CC-BY-2.0, flickr.com/photos/joi/522695099Addition and subtraction on the Curta. 12 Days of Curtsmas 1Chris Staecker2023-12-03 | 12 Days of Curtsmas Chapter 1: Addition and subtraction.
This is a Curta Type I, built in 1952. Stay tuned for episodes every other day, December 3 - 25. Thanks as always to the person who gave me the Curta.
Chapter 11 (December 23) will be a mailbag episode! So please ask questions, etc.
Follow my tiktok for very infrequent posts.The second homotopy group of the sphere: π₂(S²) in classical and digital topologyChris Staecker2023-11-29 | A very gentle introduction to the second higher homotopy group of the 2-sphere, plus some digital topology.
The paper is: "A Second Homotopy Group for Digital Images" by Gregory Lupton, Oleg Musin, Nicholas A. Scoville, P. Christopher Staecker, Jonathan Treviño-Marroquín, at arxiv here: arxiv.org/abs/2310.08706
Talk given at the Fairfield University math department research seminar, Nov 17, 2023.Curtsmas mailbag! Please send your Curtsmas wishes.Chris Staecker2023-11-22 | Day 11 (December 23) is mailbag day! Please ask questions or otherwise give me stuff to talk about.
#keepcurtsincurtsmasNational Cash Register 1925 & 1953 Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-10-27 | Two mechanical National Cash Register machines: model 711 from 1925, and model 122(2) from 1953.
This is episode 78 of my video series about old calculating devices.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaeckerTempscribe winding thermometer Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-10-13 | The Tempscribe chart recorder from the 1960s by the Bacharach company. It's a wind-up thermometer that makes a graph of the temperature over time.
This is episode 77 of my video series about old calculating devices.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaeckerSon of the MK Area CalculatorChris Staecker2023-09-29 | More about the MK Area Calculator, invented in the 1950s by Roy L Kuykendall and Warren Martin of Albuquerque NM. It's an electronic area measuring overlay, theoretically similar to the dot planimeter. Thanks to Bob Martin for all the info!
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#spy-n-shootWriting a math research paper: start to finish!Chris Staecker2023-08-25 | A quick look at the process of writing and publishing a math research article from start to finish. This paper was typical in some ways, atypical in other ways.
Real line graphic by Wikimedia user TheNub314, CC-BY-SA 3.0, from commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Real_number_line_for_Algebra_book.svg20KChris Staecker2023-08-21 | thanks for all the ks1840s Universal Calculator Review / HowTo Lalannes AbaqueChris Staecker2023-08-11 | The Abaque, OR Universal Calculator (Compteur Universel), a very ambitious nomogram created by Léon Lalanne in 1843. It can multiply and do some other stuff.
This is episode 75 of my video series about old calculating devices.
My page about the Abaque: https://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker/machines/lalanne.html
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Smartphone lady photo by User Fairphone on Flickr, CC-BY-SA-2.0
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#nomogramNumberaid the American Abacus! Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-07-28 | The Numberaid: The American Abacus created by Andrew Schott in 1957. It's a strange hybrid Russian/Chinese abacus meant to teach kids something about something.
This is episode 74 of my video series about old calculating devices.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#americaL.A. Noire (Math Props)Chris Staecker2023-07-14 | Math Props from L.A. Noire, a 2011 game by Team Bondi, published by Rockstar. A fictional adding machine which looks very authentic, but doesn't work right at all.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.The Prisoner: Arrival (Math Props)Chris Staecker2023-06-30 | Math Props from The Prisoner Episode 1 "Arrival", first aired in 1967. An Olivetti Summa Prima, modified a bit.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.W10 Wind Speed Indicator Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-06-16 | The W10 Wind Speed Indicator, patented in the 1980s by Hans Stockburger. A plastic spring anemometer!
This is episode 73 of my video series about old calculating devices.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#anemometer
Digital anemometer photo by Wikimedia user Tpdwkouaa, CC-BY-SA-4.0 Hot-wire anemometer picture by Wikimedia user Bernard do Go Mars, CC-BY-SA-4.0 Ultrasonic anemometer picture by Wikimedia user Noar 91, CC-BY-SA-3.0 Acoustic resonance anemometer picture by Wikimedia user Amibottwb, CC-BY-SO-4.0 Pitot tube anemometer picture by Wikimedia user Z22, CC-BY-SA-3.0 Beaufort scale graphic by Wikimedia user Ldecola, CC-BY-SA-4.0Bob Browns n-valued Nielsen theory, and a bit moreChris Staecker2023-06-05 | A tribute to my PhD advisor Robert F. Brown (1935-2022). This is a research talk presented at the conference on Nielsen Theory and Related Topics, in Ostend Belgium, June 5 2023. Bob was powerfully kind.
Should mostly be accessible to a general mathematics audience, though it was pitched towards fixed point theory experts.ACU-ARC Ruler Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-06-02 | The ACU-ARC Ruler, invented in the 1950s. I'm not sure how old mine is. An instrument for drawing and measuring arcs of circles with specific radius of curvature. Invented by James E Hoyle, manufactured by Hoyle Engineering Company.
This is episode 72 of my video series about old calculating devices.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#mustvebeenacrimering
French curves photo by Wikimedia user Radomil, CC-BY-SA 3.0 Pole vaulter photo by Wikimedia Commons user Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0Walther made a calculator! Walther WSR-160 Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-05-19 | The Walther WSR-160, from the 1960s. A German pinwheel calculator, one of the best of its type. Made by Walther, the gun maker!
This is episode 71 of my video series about old calculating devices.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#itsthegunsPinwheel Calculator- how it works!Chris Staecker2023-05-01 | From my upcoming longer video about the Walther WSR160. #pinwheelD & H Color Rule Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-04-14 | The D & H Color Rule, made by the Davidson & Hemmendinger Company in 1967. A slide-rule type gadget for measuring color metamerism.
This is episode 70 of my video series about old calculating devices.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#metamerismShocking abandoned 1920s antique!Chris Staecker2023-04-02 | Unbelievable. Video by my friend Erin on April 2, 2023 at the Trumbull Mall.Multiple-tally Denominator Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-03-31 | The Multiple-Tally Denominator, the 1x2 model and the 1x5 model, probably made around the 1980s or 1990s. They count.
This is episode 69 of my video series about old calculating devices.
Extreme thanks to the viewer who sent me the 1x2, a $132 value!
Photos in the bus by Chris from Texas, used with permission.
Various other photos from Denominator Company website.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#denominator #yourmothershouldknowStar Trek: Picard (Math Props)Chris Staecker2023-03-17 | Math Props from Star Trek Picard S2E4 "The Watcher", first aired in March 2022. A russian abacus, somehow abandoned in pre-war France.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.
#fascinatingSeinfeld (Math Props)Chris Staecker2023-03-03 | Math Props from Seinfeld S7E21 "Bottle Deposit", first aired in May 1996. A Burroughs Portable, from the 1920s.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.
#NEWMANMK area calculator Review / HowToChris Staecker2023-02-17 | The MK Area Calculator, invented in the 1950s by Roy L Kuykendall and Warren Martin of Albuquerque NM. It's an electronic area measuring overlay, theoretically similar to the dot planimeter.
This is episode 68 of my video series about old calculating devices.
Thanks to Vincent for printing mine out.
Download files to make your own: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker/machines/mkareacalculator.html
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#planimeter #kuykendall #diyInca counting boards and the table yupanaChris Staecker2023-01-27 | The table yupana artifacts from the Inca empire. These are often thought to be sophisticated counting boards, but there really isn't any evidence of that.
Thanks to Cinzia Florio for helping to answer some of my questions.
This is episode 67 of my video series about old calculating devices.
Download STL files of the yupanas here: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker/machines/yupana.html
Lo-res table yupana photos, and Inca art pictures from Cinzia Florio, "Recovering memory: the Inca key as yanantin", 2013.
Colored quipu photo "Quipo in the Museo Machu Picchu, Casa Concha, Cusco.jpg" by Wikimedia user Pi3.124, CC-BY-SA-4.0
Chordeleg-type photo around 3:30, and photo of the curved one that I also printed, are from Raccolte Extraeuropee del Castello Sforzesco, CC-BY-SA-3.0
De Velasco painting and from random internets- I'm not sure of the original source.
Chan Chan and Ancash yupana photos from Carlos Radicati di Primeglio, "El Sistema Contable De Los Incas: Yupana y Quipu", 1979
Machu Piccu photo by icelight on Flickr, CC-BY-2.0
Enso painting image by Wikimedia user Artanisen, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Stonehenge photo by Diego Delso, delso.photo, CC-BY-SA-4.0
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
This semester I'm teaching 2 classes: Mathematics: An Exploration- a course for non-technical majors covering various fun topics of my choosing. This class assumes no background, and involves essentially no calculations, formulas, equations, etc. The topics are: Voting, Gerrymandering, and Graph Theory. It's fun!
Theory of Computation- a course for undergrad math and computing majors about the mathematics of computation. Finite automata, regular expressions, formal grammars, Turing machines, computable functions, etc.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.
#mathpropsFamily Guy (Math Props)Chris Staecker2022-12-30 | Math Props from Family Guy season 1 episode 1, first aired in 1999. Accountants cranking adding machines.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.
#mathpropsHexadecimal mechanical calculator from the 1970sChris Staecker2022-12-16 | The Hexadder, made by Hexco Inc in the early 1970s. Sent to me by viewer Tom Carlson. Thanks Tom!
This is episode 66 of my video series about old calculating devices.
Original instructions PDF: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker/files/machines/filer.php?name=hexadderinstructions.pdf
Maya numeral table by Wikimedia user Neuromancer2K4, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Roman numeral and Chinese counting rod tables from Wikipedia.
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#hexadecimal #baseThe Name Of The Rose (Math Props e10)Chris Staecker2022-12-02 | Math Props from The Name Of The Rose, mostly the 1986 film, also the 2019 series. An astrolabe and quadrant.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.
#mathprops #yourethemannowdogLost area-measuring toolChris Staecker2022-11-18 | The Adisco Area Measurer, made by Advertising Displays Incorporated, probably in the 1950s.
This is episode 64 of my video series about old calculating devices.
Downloadable and printable version: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker/machines/adisco.html
The museum in Australia: https://collection.maas.museum/object/383315
Adiscope photo from ebay listing by ebay user bayareasurplus
Viewmaster photo from Wikimedia user ThePassenger, CC-BY-SA-3.0
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup.
Chris Staecker webarea: http://cstaecker.fairfield.edu/~cstaecker
#ratchet #planimeterInstruments for length and area: dots, lines, and little wheelsChris Staecker2022-11-04 | A talk given at the Mathematics Colloquium of Fairfield University, October 27, 2022. Intended for university undergraduates, but should be mostly understandable to anybody.
Should be mostly understandable by anyone, I mention some calculus from time to time.
#longimeter #planimeter #dotplanimeter #mapmeasureThe Wire s2e02 (Math Props e09)Chris Staecker2022-10-28 | Math Props from The Wire Season 2 (2003). A totally inappropriate slide rule!
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.
#mathprops #thewire #baldguyusingasliderulebutitdontmakenosenseCowboy Bebop (Math Props e08)Chris Staecker2022-10-14 | Math Props from Cowboy Bebop (2021). Some Clary (Remington Sperry Rand) cash registers, and a Addo model 9 adding machine.
Please comment if you know of any other math props in film or TV!
Curta image CC-BY-SA-3.0 France by Wikimedia user Rama.
#mathprops #cowboybebopClassical and Digital Topological GroupsChris Staecker2022-10-06 | A research talk presented at the Fairfield University Mathematics Research Seminar, October 6, 2022. Should be accessible to a general mathematics audience, combining ideas from topology, graph theory, and abstract algebra.