One major development in the demise of the slide rule was the release of the Sinclair Executive Electronic Pocket Calculator in August 1972. At one-third the size of its competitors, not to mention half the cost, the Sinclair Executive was a runaway hit. Discover more fascinating breakthroughs in this edition of Pioneers in Tech.
From pocket calculators to the dawn of home computing
Its designer, Sir Clive Sinclair, won multiple awards for its slim, sleek design, which Sinclair made possible by reducing the amount of power needed by the calculator chip. The Executive’s success positioned Sinclair’s company to become a leader in the rapidly developing personal computer market.
Continually driven to “miniaturize,” Sinclair launched the Sinclair ZX80 in February 1980. It measured 9-by-7-by-2 inches and weighed only 12 ounces, and cost less than £100, or about $390. The ZX line never gained a strong foothold in the United States, where it was crowded out by IBM and other competitors. Yet around the world, it became a landmark product, celebrated for its innovation and accessibility. None other than Elon Musk and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella paid tribute to Sinclair and the ZX80 upon Sinclair’s passing on September 16, 2021. Musk wrote: “RIP, Sir Sinclair. I loved that computer.” Nadella wrote: “I vividly remember my first computer, a ZX80, and the sense of wonder and empowerment I felt. It was your device that sparked my passion for engineering.”
Not all of Sinclair’s inventions took off commercially at the time. The Sinclair TV80 was a pocket TV, foretelling today’s use of mobile phones to stream video. Released in 1985, the Sinclair C5 electric tricycle featured a low-profile design that limited its safety on public roads. Its height made it difficult for other drivers to see, raising concerns about visibility and protection.
Interestingly enough, upon his death, his daughter Belinda told The Guardian that her father didn’t use a pocket calculator himself, preferring a slide rule.
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This post originally appeared on Smarter MSP.