George Duke wrote on Mon, Jul 16, 2007 06:33 PM UTC:
World's first binary computer? Chessboard 64-square uses Rook and Bishop
moves. [Addition algorithm: depict each number to add across a rank by
'R' counters, then use Rook moves to slide all the representations to
Rank 1; right to left, replace any and all 'doubles' by one to left,
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ continuing until each first-rank square
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is binary 1 or 0, where a 'Rook' is
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ '1'] Bishop-like multiplication to
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ left shows chess-computer-abacus' 19x13
___ ___ ___b___ ___ ___b___b 1 operation (differing procedure than for
___ ___ ___b___ ___ ___b___b 1 Addition). After placement, Bishop-
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 0 counters are to move diagonally left
___ ___ ___B___ ___ ___B___B 1 downward. Moves become b d4-a1,
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 b d3-b1, b g4-d1, b g3-e1,
a b c d e f g h b h4-e1 and b h3-f1, making first Rank now: B___B___ ___BB__BB___B___B___B and again replacing the 'doubles' with just one to each pair's adjacent left:
B___B___B___B___ ___B___B___B = 11110111 = 247(base 10)
--Method of John Napier in 1617 'Rabdologia', including also
Subtraction, Division and Extracting Square Roots on chessboard, improves
Middle Age calculating methods: 'bank' deriving from German counting
board, Rechenbank. Scientific American 1985