8
$\begingroup$

As technology evolved, some ideas and methods became obsolete. What mathematical ideas entered this state due to technology progress?

We could consider that doing some mathematical operations done by hand are obsolete because we can do them on computer, for example. But these operations still exist, they're only being processed through computers now.

Is there something on mathematics that entered a complete state of abolishment due to technological progress?

  • 11
    Log tables might be an example, if you count it as a "mathematical idea".2012-09-08
  • 4
    @Alex: so would slide rules, but in both cases the mathematical idea is that of the logarithm, which has certainly not become obsolete.2012-09-08
  • 0
    @TrevorWilson Yep. In this case, I guess it's only a change of interface.2012-09-08
  • 0
    That's what I meant with my second paragraph: I wanted to build a dicotomy between idea/concept and interface.2012-09-08
  • 0
    Mathematics is not isolated from other sciences. Throughout the history, the development of mathematics has been influenced, to some extent, by physics, engineering and other sciences. Accordingly, sometimes certain areas of mathematics become more or less popular because of progress in other fields.2012-09-08
  • 1
    Along log tables, abacus and quipo could be mentioned.2012-09-08
  • 0
    Slide rules, in particular, which I used in high school, were one of the most magical and cool of all the instruments we ever used in some mathematics or science class. I think it's a pity they're gone, eventhough calculators make them vintage now, they still can help to lure and catch students imagination and fascination. If it were depending on me, I'd add them the general studies plan as "very recommended learning stuff"2012-09-08
  • 2
    You might take a look at a 19th or 18th-century arithmetic textbook, and see what topics are treated there that have fallen by the wayside since. There are many such texts available in Google books.2012-09-15

9 Answers 9