
What Is Computational Thinking? ◾ 11
Not every historical calculating device was used to perform arithmetic.
e device that is the rst known example of using gears for calculation
is the Antikythera mechanism (Figure1.8). Dated to the rst century BC,
this machine contained at least 30 interconnected brass gears of various
dimensions. It is believed that positioning a crank on the Antikythera
mechanism caused the device to accurately identify the location of the
sun, moon, and planets.
e Antikythera mechanism has been called a computer by some peo-
ple. However, it is probably more accurate to think of it as a special pur-
pose calc ...