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Before the 1600's the Abucus was used to keep track of taxes and longer math problems.
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Napier's Bones were invented John Napier for multiplication. It was a set of rods with numbers writen on them, which they go on a board and the person lines the numbers up to solve the problem.
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William Gunter developed a logarithmic rule for multiplication and division using dividers, which was the forerunner of the slide rule.
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William Oughtred invented the circular slide rule, and in 1633 described the rectilinear version.
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Blaise Pascal invented the mechanical calculator in 1642. After three years of effort and 50 prototypes he introduced his calculator to the public. He built 20 of these machines in the following ten years.
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Giovanni Poleni's calucatling clock used a pinwheel design and it was made of wood.
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W.T. Odhner in Sweden independently develops the pin-wheel calculator, the first of the long series of Odhner calculators . Since then, many calculating machines have used the same principle.
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The first direct multiplication machine was built by Raymond Verea.
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Miniature hand-held mechanical calculator introduced. One of the few major innovations in mechanical calculators in the mid 20th century.
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The world's first electronic desktop calculators were announced by the Bell Punch Co., Uxbridge, England - the Anita Mk VII for the continental European market and the Anita Mk 8 for other markets. These models used cold-cathode vacuum tubes and numerical display ("Nixie" type) tubes.
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First battery powered, hand-held, electronic calculator.
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First microprocessor - Intel 4004 - was designed for and used in Busicom 141-PF desk calculator.
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Calculators started to be mass produced and the price is lowered.
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The first solar powered calculators were introduced, the Royal Solar 1, Teal Photon , and Sharp EL-8028. The Casio Mini Card LC-78 is the first credit card sized calculator.