Gentian's Photographic Misadventures

[Gentian]

Another thing I enjoy is early technology, and the abacus is one of the ones I like the most. One thing I do not like, is the way xenophilia and mysticism have made the versions of things found in the east be given a cultural aura of superiority, or mysteriousness, the most infamous example is the katana/longsword thing. But, I will eagerly admit the Japanese abacus is much, much better than the ones we used in the west.

A funny thing about Japan is, it's quite conservative, though not in the ways the internet likes to pretend. These are, to my mind, an amusing example of both Japanese ingenuity, and tradition rolled into one, I mean, who thought of combining an electronic calculator with an abacus? Who would think of that, and why would they think it was a good idea? Backup if the battery fails? Electronics being considered unreliable? An easy method to check answers? Skilled abacus users can outpace calculator users (go look up flash anzan on youtube), so maybe it was a logistical thing? As in, the high-level abacusers could use it, and the less-skilled could use the calculator, but the company would only have to buy one machine?