Comments on: Nuclear slide-rules from a time after nukes and before pocket-calculators http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 08:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357895 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357895 I can see these as being pretty handy in the bunker after the blast, wouldn't want to waste valuable battery power on calculators. Of course, what do I care how big the blast crater is outside, we're still gonna have to stay inside for months . . . so I guess in that case the slide rule would be more for entertainment than anything else. I'm sure we'll come up with a way to gamble using the slide rules. "I'll see your can of mixed vegetables, and raise you an iodine tablet!" I can see these as being pretty handy in the bunker after the blast, wouldn’t want to waste valuable battery power on calculators. Of course, what do I care how big the blast crater is outside, we’re still gonna have to stay inside for months . . . so I guess in that case the slide rule would be more for entertainment than anything else. I’m sure we’ll come up with a way to gamble using the slide rules. “I’ll see your can of mixed vegetables, and raise you an iodine tablet!”

]]> By: fencesitter http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357900 fencesitter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357900 Apologies if this gets duplicated, I tried posting anonymously sonce I didn't want to look up my password. Mr Jalopy forgets the big advantage of this over a pocket calculator- EMP is going to render the (electronic) calculator useless. And these slide rules are mostly self explanatory and easy to use- unlike all the interest/loan functions on a financial calculator, for instance. Then again, I haven't used any pocket calculator more modern than an early 1980's HP. Apologies if this gets duplicated, I tried posting anonymously sonce I didn’t want to look up my password.

Mr Jalopy forgets the big advantage of this over a pocket calculator- EMP is going to render the (electronic) calculator useless.

And these slide rules are mostly self explanatory and easy to use- unlike all the interest/loan functions on a financial calculator, for instance. Then again, I haven’t used any pocket calculator more modern than an early 1980′s HP.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357907 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357907 http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmv_R2hOnNI http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmv_R2hOnNI

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357913 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357913 I used to hold EG&G stock, and had a summer job studying cratering, so this is bringing back old memories. @10: One of the reasons cratering was (is?) considered relevant is exactly because it is *not* fuzzy: if the target has been replaced by a crater, you can feel reasonably confident that it has been destroyed. I'd suspect that calculators such as this one are as accurate as their designers could make them. I used to hold EG&G stock, and had a summer job studying cratering, so this is bringing back old memories.

@10: One of the reasons cratering was (is?) considered relevant is exactly because it is *not* fuzzy: if the target has been replaced by a crater, you can feel reasonably confident that it has been destroyed. I’d suspect that calculators such as this one are as accurate as their designers could make them.

]]> By: arkizzle http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357920 arkizzle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357920 Thanks WordTipping, you just tangentially inspired a LOLcat :) <a href='http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=2892422' rel="nofollow">I Can Haz-Mat?</a> Thanks WordTipping,
you just tangentially inspired a LOLcat :)

I Can Haz-Mat?

]]> By: Nelson.C http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358188 Nelson.C Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358188 I'd say that slide rules are more atompunk than steampunk. Especially this one. I’d say that slide rules are more atompunk than steampunk. Especially this one.

]]> By: Lexica http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357953 Lexica Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357953 Nur @ #17:<blockquote>Sliderules aren't steampunk - they actually are harder to use. It's not like putting typewriter keys on your computer's keyboard. It involves knowing a great deal about what operations you actually perform to do maths.</blockquote>Yes, indeed. The first day of junior high, the math teacher told us that use of calculators would not be allowed in class. "What about slide rules?" asked smart-alec me. "If you want to learn how to use a slide rule, you can use a slide rule in class," was the response. Whee! I went straight home and said "Hey, Dad, show me how to use that nifty circular slide rule that's been gathering dust in your desk drawer since before I was born." Nur @ #17:
Sliderules aren’t steampunk – they actually are harder to use. It’s not like putting typewriter keys on your computer’s keyboard. It involves knowing a great deal about what operations you actually perform to do maths.

Yes, indeed. The first day of junior high, the math teacher told us that use of calculators would not be allowed in class. “What about slide rules?” asked smart-alec me. “If you want to learn how to use a slide rule, you can use a slide rule in class,” was the response. Whee! I went straight home and said “Hey, Dad, show me how to use that nifty circular slide rule that’s been gathering dust in your desk drawer since before I was born.”

]]> By: Trent Hawkins http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357706 Trent Hawkins Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357706 I know what I'm buying for next Halloween. It wouldn't be a Strangelove costume without it! I know what I’m buying for next Halloween.
It wouldn’t be a Strangelove costume without it!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358987 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358987 @ #2: Make, Schmake. John Walker at Fourmilab already did the heavy lifting: http://www.fourmilab.ch/bombcalc/brico.html @ #2: Make, Schmake. John Walker at Fourmilab already did the heavy lifting: http://www.fourmilab.ch/bombcalc/brico.html

]]> By: beekone http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357711 beekone Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357711 These are all Make projects waiting to happen. Quick, someone with motivation, get on it! These are all Make projects waiting to happen. Quick, someone with motivation, get on it!

]]> By: cowmix http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357722 cowmix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357722 Hehe... This looks like the device my wife used when she would compute the due date for our children when she was pregnant. http://www.thedatewheel.com/images/pregnancy-wheel.jpg Hehe… This looks like the device my wife used when she would compute the due date for our children when she was pregnant.

http://www.thedatewheel.com/images/pregnancy-wheel.jpg

]]> By: Nygard http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357723 Nygard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357723 I actually own one of these. I actually own one of these.

]]> By: Tuneguru http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357984 Tuneguru Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357984 <a href="http://coldwarcalculators.blogspot.com/">Cold War Calculators</a> has more, with a focus on nuclear fallout and radiation dosage calculators Cold War Calculators has more, with a focus on nuclear fallout and radiation dosage calculators

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357730 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357730 A friend of mine was a Marine NBC specialist. He called those a "Whizz-wheel". He related a story of his instructor telling him to keep it in his back pocket so should he need one, he could rightly say "he pulled the numbers out of his ass" A friend of mine was a Marine NBC specialist. He called those a “Whizz-wheel”.

He related a story of his instructor telling him to keep it in his back pocket so should he need one, he could rightly say “he pulled the numbers out of his ass”

]]> By: fuzzheadgha http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357734 fuzzheadgha Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357734 I actually saw one of these just the other day at the Kubrick Archives at the London College of Communication. In one scene Dr. Strangelove uses it in that manic way of his when he calculates the scope of destruction. There were lots of other cool objects there from Kubrick's personal collection! The archive is definitely worth checking out! I actually saw one of these just the other day at the Kubrick Archives at the London College of Communication. In one scene Dr. Strangelove uses it in that manic way of his when he calculates the scope of destruction.
There were lots of other cool objects there from Kubrick’s personal collection! The archive is definitely worth checking out!

]]> By: cannibals http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357746 cannibals Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357746 I've got two Death Wheels - The first is the Nuclear Bomb Effects Computer, Revised Edition that was packaged in the Effects of Nuclear Weapons handbook in the early 80's. The second is a bigger death wheel that was used to compute target vulnerability for both P and Q type targets, which is a descriptive shorthand for structures that are affected by either blast or overpressure. I didn't see the second one on the web site. I got these back in the early SDI days, when we were trying to figure out exactly what could be done with SDI and we needed to build some simplified exchange models for quick analysis in spreadsheets. I’ve got two Death Wheels – The first is the Nuclear Bomb Effects Computer, Revised Edition that was packaged in the Effects of Nuclear Weapons handbook in the early 80′s. The second is a bigger death wheel that was used to compute target vulnerability for both P and Q type targets, which is a descriptive shorthand for structures that are affected by either blast or overpressure.

I didn’t see the second one on the web site.

I got these back in the early SDI days, when we were trying to figure out exactly what could be done with SDI and we needed to build some simplified exchange models for quick analysis in spreadsheets.

]]> By: Maggie Leber http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358011 Maggie Leber Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358011 #17 Ooooh. Knowing what you're doing when doing math? Scary. (still have my Pickett 10"...and my A.S.A aluminum E6-B, too...) http://www.sliderule.ca/pin4vf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E6B #17

Ooooh. Knowing what you’re doing when doing math?

Scary.

(still have my Pickett 10″…and my A.S.A aluminum E6-B, too…)

http://www.sliderule.ca/pin4vf.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E6B

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357757 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357757 My school had The Effects of Nuclear Weapons with one of these in the back. It is worth noting that there's a handy lookup table on the back of the computer informing you what the overpressures calculated mean in terms of when lungs are destroyed, and at what velocity rocks and men will be thrown about the place. A very cheerful book. As an entertaining GCSE Physics experiment we tested with a Geiger counter whether it was more radioactive than background. My school had The Effects of Nuclear Weapons with one of these in the back. It is worth noting that there’s a handy lookup table on the back of the computer informing you what the overpressures calculated mean in terms of when lungs are destroyed, and at what velocity rocks and men will be thrown about the place.

A very cheerful book. As an entertaining GCSE Physics experiment we tested with a Geiger counter whether it was more radioactive than background.

]]> By: OM http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358014 OM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358014 ...Now, if you can merge one of these with a Rubik's Cube, you've got a winner on your hands! :-) …Now, if you can merge one of these with a Rubik’s Cube, you’ve got a winner on your hands! :-)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358528 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358528 We had to learn to use a slide rule in Nuclear Engineering because high gamma would cook an electronic calculator, and you had to crunch the numbers to scram the reactor. We had to learn to use a slide rule in Nuclear Engineering because high gamma would cook an electronic calculator, and you had to crunch the numbers to scram the reactor.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357778 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357778 Some day, slide rules will inspire an aesthetic similar to what steampunk is doing now. Some day, slide rules will inspire an aesthetic similar to what steampunk is doing now.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357790 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357790 Of course it's a slide rule- don't you know the EMP would render your pocket calculator useless anyway? And a calculator wouldn't be as self-explanatory anyway. I know I wouldn't know how to use the functions of a financial calculator to figure loan rates, interest, payments, etc. Of course it’s a slide rule- don’t you know the EMP would render your pocket calculator useless anyway?

And a calculator wouldn’t be as self-explanatory anyway. I know I wouldn’t know how to use the functions of a financial calculator to figure loan rates, interest, payments, etc.

]]> By: libelle http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358058 libelle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358058 I had this information in a PalmOS app call EONW that John Oliver adapted from the book. It had UI sliders instead of wheels, and would helpfully tell you in color coded boxes the percent chance of survival for your criteria. Some time after 9/11, the app vanished from most Palm software sites, although I don't know there was any correlation between the two events. I had this information in a PalmOS app call EONW that John Oliver adapted from the book. It had UI sliders instead of wheels, and would helpfully tell you in color coded boxes the percent chance of survival for your criteria.

Some time after 9/11, the app vanished from most Palm software sites, although I don’t know there was any correlation between the two events.

]]> By: franko http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358062 franko Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358062 for the record, these are called volvelles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvelle for the record, these are called volvelles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvelle

]]> By: Church http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357807 Church Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357807 Eagerly awaiting slidepunk. Eagerly awaiting slidepunk.

]]> By: wordtipping http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357827 wordtipping Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357827 These are still used to some degree within the Armed Forces for disaster response. I've trained with one variety of them or another when plotting fallout, health effects, contamination corridors, etc. They are super handy since they are simple, rugged, and can be easily used when in a sealed haz-mat suit. That was always the biggest hurdle when trying to use a laptop with software solutions, its hard to do with big rubber gloves. In addition to these we also used colored transparent plastic shapes matched to standard map sizes to represent common nuke sizes and wind speeds so we could quickly draw up blast/heat/rad radii and then your corridor. All decidedly low-tech but very effective. These are still used to some degree within the Armed Forces for disaster response. I’ve trained with one variety of them or another when plotting fallout, health effects, contamination corridors, etc. They are super handy since they are simple, rugged, and can be easily used when in a sealed haz-mat suit. That was always the biggest hurdle when trying to use a laptop with software solutions, its hard to do with big rubber gloves. In addition to these we also used colored transparent plastic shapes matched to standard map sizes to represent common nuke sizes and wind speeds so we could quickly draw up blast/heat/rad radii and then your corridor. All decidedly low-tech but very effective.

]]> By: peebz http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358083 peebz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358083 If you like these check out the stunningly beautiful and geekily wonderful nomograms (e.g., http://myreckonings.com/wordpress/2008/01/09/the-art-of-nomography-i-geometric-design/). A lost art indeed... If you like these check out the stunningly beautiful and geekily wonderful nomograms (e.g., http://myreckonings.com/wordpress/2008/01/09/the-art-of-nomography-i-geometric-design/). A lost art indeed…

]]> By: peebz http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-358088 peebz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-358088 Sorry, link in last post doesn't work, try this: http://myreckonings.com/wordpress/2008/01/09/the-art-of-nomography-i-geometric-design/ Sorry, link in last post doesn’t work, try this: http://myreckonings.com/wordpress/2008/01/09/the-art-of-nomography-i-geometric-design/

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357837 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357837 these instruments are remarkable in that unlike mathematical/scientific slide rules which MUST answer to an unyielding reality, "nuclear effects" were always deliberately down-rated so as to achieve tactical goals - not save lives. You can't get troops to march through a fresh mushroom cloud if they know for a fact they are all going to die from it. these instruments are remarkable in that unlike mathematical/scientific slide rules which MUST answer to an unyielding reality, “nuclear effects” were always deliberately down-rated so as to achieve tactical goals – not save lives. You can’t get troops to march through a fresh mushroom cloud if they know for a fact they are all going to die from it.

]]> By: wordtipping http://boingboing.net/2008/12/16/nuclear-sliderules-f.html#comment-357841 wordtipping Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-357841 These are still used to some degree within the Armed Forces for disaster response. I've trained with one variety of them or another when plotting fallout, health effects, contamination corridors, etc. They are super handy since they are simple, rugged, and can be easily used when in a sealed haz-mat suit. That was always the biggest hurdle when trying to use a laptop with software solutions, its hard to do with big rubber gloves. In addition to these we also used colored transparent plastic shapes matched to standard map sizes to represent common nuke sizes and wind speeds so we could quickly draw up blast/heat/rad radii and then your corridor. All decidedly low-tech but very effective. These are still used to some degree within the Armed Forces for disaster response. I’ve trained with one variety of them or another when plotting fallout, health effects, contamination corridors, etc. They are super handy since they are simple, rugged, and can be easily used when in a sealed haz-mat suit. That was always the biggest hurdle when trying to use a laptop with software solutions, its hard to do with big rubber gloves. In addition to these we also used colored transparent plastic shapes matched to standard map sizes to represent common nuke sizes and wind speeds so we could quickly draw up blast/heat/rad radii and then your corridor. All decidedly low-tech but very effective.

]]>