University Pays Homage To The Slide Rule (Ah, A Simpler Time)

[matcom]

<snip>

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- What's pocket-sized, does complex math calculations and doesn't take any batteries?

It's a slide rule.

And they're as alien to the Internet generation as rotary phones and 45 rpm records.

Now, Purdue University is paying homage to the geeky tool of generations of scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

Nearly 200 slide rules are on display, including one donated by the first man on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong.

He's among the Purdue alumni to donate their slide rules.

The display also celebrates the 100th anniversary of Purdue's civil engineering department.

"There was a point in time when the slide rule was king," said James Alleman, a professor of civil engineering who began collecting the slide rules from alumni 15 years ago. "During a period of about 400 years, anything anybody built that was of any magnitude would have required a slide rule."

http://www.wftv.com/newsofthestrange/3772674/detail.html

[Waistdeep]

1. If you miss your old slide rule

Then just go here to refresh your memory.

[forgethell]

2. Thanks, that's cool!! n/t

[wtmusic]

3. Ya mean I'm not the only one in the world with a slide rule collection?

He's way off on his claim that slide rules were used commonly before 1850, though.

[sbj405]

4. I have a few, too.

Ebay is great. :-)

[wtmusic]

5. Whatcha got?

Faves?