Title :
The ternary calculating machine of Thomas Fowler
Author :
Glusker, Mark ; Hogan, David M. ; Vass, Pamela
Author_Institution :
Nektar Therapeutics, San Carlos, CA, USA
Abstract :
In 1840, Thomas Fowler, a self-taught English mathematician and inventor, created a unique ternary calculating machine. Recently, all detail of this machine was lost. A research project begun in 1997, uncovered sufficient information to enable the recreation of a physical concept model of Fowler´s machine. The next step is to create a historically accurate replica.
Keywords :
calculating apparatus; history; history; ternary calculating machine; Educational institutions; Finance; Patent law; Technological innovation; Unemployment; 19th century; Augustus De Morgan; Thomas Fowler; balanced ternary; base-3; calculating machine; historical reconstruction; signed ternary; ternary;
Journal_Title :
Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MAHC.2005.49
