Keith Houston is the author of Empire of the Sum: The Rise and
Reign of the Pocket Calculator. He joins Alan on this episode of
AMSEcast to discuss the history of calculating. From the ancient
Lebombo bone to mechanical calculators, Keith covers the evolution
of calculating tools. This includes modern milestones like John
Napier’s logarithms, the HP-35 scientific calculator, and the
TI-81’s impact on U.S. classrooms. Keith also discusses his
forthcoming book, Face With Tears of Joy. In this book, he explores
the history, culture, and governance of emojis.
Guest Bio
Keith Houston is the author of many books. In Empire of the
Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator, he explores the
story behind this revolutionary tool. Keith is also the creator of
the Shady Characters blog where he covers the history of
punctuation and typography. He is working on a new book that dives
into the history of emojis.
Show Highlights
(1:55) When humans started counting
(4:37) How the abacus and counting board advanced our ability
to calculate
(6:28) The creation of the algorithm
(11:13) Why the Curta stands out in the evolution of the
calculator
(18:00) Why the Pocketronic from Texas Instruments was so
groundbreaking
(25:44) How the HANDY-LE fits into the story of
calculating
(26:30) HP’s role in revolutionizing calculating with the
HP-35
(29:05) How the TI-81 was able to be found in classrooms around
the world
(34:15) America’s reaction to calculators in the classroom
setting
Produced from the American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSEcast invites guests from the world of science, literature, and technology to share unique perspectives from the realm of the highly trained and curiously minded.