I mentioned in another blog entry that I was considering doing something with slide rules.
I mentioned in yet another entry how I hope to pass on some of newly acquired mathematical knowledge to my grandkids.

I'm working on a slide-rule for kids project. Although I didn't use maple in any phase of this project, it was definitely a stepping stone on the path that lead up to it. Below is a picture of one of the prototypes - a very rough prototype.

read more about it by clicking the "read more" link below ---

... I doubt that there has ever been a better way to learn the relationship between numbers - and even mathematics in general - than the slide-rule from days-gone-by, and the ability to plot functions using modern computer technology.

For the young people here who may not have ever used a slide rule, below is a link to a virtual slide rule:
    virtual slide rule

I wish, and think it would be a great asset to Maplesoft to incorporate a "Virtual Slide-Rule" into their software. Not something as basic as the one shown at the link above, but rather one that could be zoomed in/out, display the results digitally, include new functionality such as that relating to integral and differential calculus as an example, and even plot the results. Myself, being 53 years of age and trying to pick up where I left off after dropping out of school in my youth somewhere between the 8th and 9th grade, can testify to the benefit of these two tools! I honestly believe, for example, that if Fourier (and likely many others) had a tool such as Maple, he would have come to his conclusions - and likely many more - more quickly.

Since I like working with wood - I just couldn't resist . . .

a Maple Coffee Table

To put it simply - it's about the grandkids. As anyone who is a grandparent may understand, once you have grandkids you spend time reflecting back on your own life and no matter where you've been, or what you've done, you always want them to have the opportunity to do better.

Having left school at 15 years of age    ( for somewhat noble reasons )   I never learned or had the opportunity to learn the math that I later always wished I had. My life has been so busy raising my family and working the kinds of jobs that many who use Maple will never have to work, that I never had the opportunity to spend the time to further my education.