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May 04, 2007

The latest in telecalculography

Steampunk Mouse.jpg

Jake of All Trades reports the latest development in telecalculography, a steampunk mouse "Bug".

One holds the device in a manner similar to the way a wood-worker holds a sanding block. The palm rests upon the “ball” in the foreground, with the fingers extending forward. The middle digit is placed upon the spiked cog, while the pointing-finger and the ring-bearing finger sit on the studded levers on either side. The thumb and small-finger rest comfortably on the side of the cylinder, helping to grip the contraption. The “Bug”, as the Professor calls it, is slid about upon a table top–thusly controlling a mobile indicator upon the Telecalculograph’s display.

This sounds a remarkably handy device - if you will excuse the word-play - and it strikes me as just the thing for enabling telecalculograph difference paintings of steampunk machinery (hat tip to the Flea's Kingston Agent in Place). Or, for the most advanced motion picture telecalculography, entire stop-motion features such as The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello. Surely this development implies an Age of Reason and Scientific Progress is upon us and an end to dervish irrationalism.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at May 4, 2007 05:47 AM

Comments

And I see at least three places where I could open a beer with it without leaving my desk. Perfect.

Posted by: Alan McLeod [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 4, 2007 03:32 PM

I think the middle scroll-cog would cause a wee bit of discomfort after a day's work.

Posted by: Chris Taylor [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 4, 2007 04:40 PM

Bah Chris! Ergonomics and functionality is for the weak! It looks spectabular and we should all suffer for our outward persona else it is not hard-won.

Posted by: Gorthos [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 6, 2007 09:40 AM

Ergonomics and functionality = not goth or, in this instance, steampunk.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 6, 2007 10:20 AM