I always see those videos where people give kids a walkman or a rotary phone and ask them to figure out what it is or how it works. I'm imagining some medieval merchant handing me an abacus and laughing because I can't figure it out.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

Hint: each bar has five beads, with a 2 bead multiplier above

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Young whippersnappers.

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[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 13 points 2 days ago (2 children)

You kids don't know how good you have it!

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[–] MeatPilot@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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At least you have hands! I had to get my fabricated from the town blacksmith.

[–] hakunawazo@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 days ago

Ooh ooh ooh?

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Fun fact, the Romans would never have labeled their abacuses like this. It would have made calculating very difficult; they effectively worked with modern numbers in bead form, and then used the famous numeral system just to record the results.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Don't buy copper from this guy, it's low-quality and your messenger will be treated with contempt.

[–] MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago

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[–] Smokeydope@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

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