What happens when you set out to build a pocket calculator? Well in this case it turns out you also accidentally invent desktop computers, and spawn a bunch of CPUs that are still being used today.

Follow along as we go through the thoroughly bizarre story of how trying to do complex maths and fit it in our pockets lead directly to the machine you're using right now to watch this video.

Calculators were originally like computers - huge boxes that required care and maintenance and sat firmly on a desk plugged into the wall. Today everyone wants to own a smartphone, back then everyone wanted a pocket calculator.

The story of trying to cram a whole shoebox of electronics into a pocket involves dodgy corporate dealings, people starting their own companies and deciding that while calculators were nice, being able to program them would be even better.

Part of the difficulty of building a calculator is working out how to understand the maths the operators were entering. A basic four function calculator can be thought of as a simple state machine, but once we get to doing scientific functions or longer multi stage formulae. And this is where a technique known as Reverse Polish Notation comes in.

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Credits / Attributions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Schickard

Wilhelm Schickard 1592–1635. Astronom, Geograph, Orientalist, Erfinder der Rechenmaschine, Tübingen 1978

Replica of Schickards calculating machine Herbert Klaeren

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal

A Pascaline signed by Pascal in 1652

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2542893 Anita MK8 calculator

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F038812-0014,_Wolfsburg,_VW_Autowerk.jpg Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F038812-0014 / Schaack, Lothar / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Intel C1103 - By Thomas Nguyen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49532861

Intel 4004 - By the Science Museum - [1], CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133513690

Intel 8008 - By Konstantin Lanzet - CPU Collection Konstantin LanzetCamera: Canon EOS 400D, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5694177

Intel 8080 - By The Science Museum UK - [1], CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133514392

Intel 8086 - By Thomas Nguyen - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46809082

6502 - CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91538

Zilog Z80 - By The original uploader was Damicatz at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1830432

Busicom logo - By Comrade-yutyo - Own workThis file was derived from: Busicom back 1.jpg:, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126212890

http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/busicom_141-pf.html

Intel https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Intel_Employees_at_Bowers_Campus_In_Santa_Clara.jpg

HP-35 - By Mister rf - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83581216 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCt2G4FdHs