Sniper Scopes

Since this is morphing into a "why doesn't Charis introduce this technology?" topic, I'll toss in this question:
Why don't they introduce the slide rule? It is a powerful tool for performing calculations involving multiplication and division and trigonometric and other higher functions. The device was invented in the 17th century, and came into common use in the 19th century. Until the invention of the electronic calculator in the 1960s, every engineer and technician, and most artisans, carried and used one every day.
Their mathematical basis is well understood by the residents of the imperial college. The technology to make them in quantity is well within the capability of the Charisians; the only skill-requiring step being the laying out of the master scales from which all scales on final instruments are copied.
I have raised this subject before, but it didn't seem to go anywhere. I still think it's a natural for Charis/Safehold at the current level of technology. It would give Charis a powerful advantage in doing the mathematical calculations involved in moving into the industrial age.
Philip Stanley

Philip Stanley wrote:Since this is morphing into a "why doesn't Charis introduce this technology?" topic, I'll toss in this question:
Why don't they introduce the slide rule? It is a powerful tool for performing calculations involving multiplication and division and trigonometric and other higher functions. The device was invented in the 17th century, and came into common use in the 19th century. Until the invention of the electronic calculator in the 1960s, every engineer and technician, and most artisans, carried and used one every day.
Their mathematical basis is well understood by the residents of the imperial college. The technology to make them in quantity is well within the capability of the Charisians; the only skill-requiring step being the laying out of the master scales from which all scales on final instruments are copied.
I have raised this subject before, but it didn't seem to go anywhere. I still think it's a natural for Charis/Safehold at the current level of technology. It would give Charis a powerful advantage in doing the mathematical calculations involved in moving into the industrial age.
Philip Stanley

Also the machinist ruler. Hundreths of an inch.

TN4994 wrote:

Philip Stanley wrote:Since this is morphing into a "why doesn't Charis introduce this technology?" topic, I'll toss in this question:
Why don't they introduce the slide rule? It is a powerful tool for performing calculations involving multiplication and division and trigonometric and other higher functions. The device was invented in the 17th century, and came into common use in the 19th century. Until the invention of the electronic calculator in the 1960s, every engineer and technician, and most artisans, carried and used one every day.
Their mathematical basis is well understood by the residents of the imperial college. The technology to make them in quantity is well within the capability of the Charisians; the only skill-requiring step being the laying out of the master scales from which all scales on final instruments are copied.
I have raised this subject before, but it didn't seem to go anywhere. I still think it's a natural for Charis/Safehold at the current level of technology. It would give Charis a powerful advantage in doing the mathematical calculations involved in moving into the industrial age.
Philip Stanley

Also the machinist ruler. Hundreths of an inch.

I would suspect that Howsmyn's artisans do have something like the machinists ruler, given how precision their machine work is becoming...

I haven't seen anything that would indicate slide rules, however. Coincidently, I happened across my old K&E slide rule from high school ('60-'64) the other day... works as good as ever.

Philip Stanley wrote:Since this is morphing into a "why doesn't Charis introduce this technology?" topic, I'll toss in this question:
Why don't they introduce the slide rule? It is a powerful tool for performing calculations involving multiplication and division and trigonometric and other higher functions. The device was invented in the 17th century, and came into common use in the 19th century. Until the invention of the electronic calculator in the 1960s, every engineer and technician, and most artisans, carried and used one every day.
Their mathematical basis is well understood by the residents of the imperial college. The technology to make them in quantity is well within the capability of the Charisians; the only skill-requiring step being the laying out of the master scales from which all scales on final instruments are copied.
I have raised this subject before, but it didn't seem to go anywhere. I still think it's a natural for Charis/Safehold at the current level of technology. It would give Charis a powerful advantage in doing the mathematical calculations involved in moving into the industrial age.
Philip Stanley

Having been taught how to use them in high school (and in anger as a pilot (the old E-6B)) I would be surprised if ships navigators are not using something similar (if not, they are simple enough to make given a set to drawings).

n7axw wrote:

TN4994 wrote:...

I haven't seen anything that would indicate slide rules, however. Coincidently, I happened across my old K&E slide rule from high school ('60-'64) the other day... works as good as ever.

Wow...the batteries work after all these years???!!!

jgnfld wrote:
Wow...the batteries work after all these years???!!!

The batteries come with a lifetime guarantee...and I spring from a long lived line.

Don

Hi Philip Stanley,

I totally agree and think RFC would too as part of the EoC's hunt for accurate calculating.

We may see it used in the background someplace in HFQ, being so common its no longer remarked upon or seen as a sign of only a Charisian engineer etc.

L

Philip Stanley wrote:Since this is morphing into a "why doesn't Charis introduce this technology?" topic, I'll toss in this question:
Why don't they introduce the slide rule? It is a powerful tool for performing calculations involving multiplication and division and trigonometric and other higher functions. The device was invented in the 17th century, and came into common use in the 19th century. Until the invention of the electronic calculator in the 1960s, every engineer and technician, and most artisans, carried and used one every day.
Their mathematical basis is well understood by the residents of the imperial college. The technology to make them in quantity is well within the capability of the Charisians; the only skill-requiring step being the laying out of the master scales from which all scales on final instruments are copied.
I have raised this subject before, but it didn't seem to go anywhere. I still think it's a natural for Charis/Safehold at the current level of technology. It would give Charis a powerful advantage in doing the mathematical calculations involved in moving into the industrial age.
Philip Stanley

TN4994 wrote:

Zakharra wrote:Heh. Yeah. I didn't even think of the vacuum air tubes, but the electronic vacuum tubes.


I don't see that as being feasible. Maintaining enough air pressure to push small parcels containing messages across thousands of miles of tubing would be undoable. Not to mention repairing it would be pretty much impossible. It would be easier, safer and more reliable to have small fast courier ships carrying important messages.

Yeah: Air pressure and vacuum pumps would be needed on a line run the shortest distance between relay islands in the Empire of Charis. The original Transatlantic Telegraph cable ran from Labrador to Ireland, and lasted three weeks. The last telephone cable had several amplifiers and electric discharge apparatus to bleed off EMF. Pneumatic tubes may be economically unfeasible for a private firm. But war on Earth has necessitated some surprising accidental civilian conveniences.

I mean I literally cannot see a way to make pneumatic tubing stretching across the bottom of the ocean, thousands of miles work, in peace or in war, no matter how the dire need was. There's possible way to power or maintain/repair the tubing. It would be difficult for us to make (and more than useless since we have much better, safer and faster methods of communicating). And with Safehold being a non electricity using society, not seeing it happening.

In the late 1800's some very narrow, very fast steam ships were built, over 40 knots were built for trans-Alantic service. Something like that would be useful for communications within the various operations of the Empire. While they are at it they need two Royal Yachts,bigger and armed.

Hi 6L6,

I've suggested imperial mail dispatch boats before, with a range of around 1000-1200 miles under steam at ~30 kts, though 25 might be acceptable to reach Chisholm in a couple of days from Emerald, the longest sea distance, with at least another pair operating in Howell Bay.

Armed they would be useful fleet scouts, as well as replacements for sail schooners etc, but RFC isn't in a hurry for such, possibly for story telling reasons.

L

6L6 wrote:In the late 1800's some very narrow, very fast steam ships were built, over 40 knots were built for trans-Alantic service. Something like that would be useful for communications within the various operations of the Empire. While they are at it they need two Royal Yachts,bigger and armed.