P3D Re: Paper Base-Calculator Impossible

[Bruce Springsteen <bsspringsteen@xxxxxxxxx>]

Red Suit Man, Not Santa says:
> I want that coveted Springsteen Prize, but I think it's impossible. 

Springsteen is arguably impossible, but I'm convinced the Calculator
can 
be done, and maybe has been.

> I've
> been playing around with a math toy called a nomogram, which is
probably
> too complex to be called a slide rule.  But even then, I can't make it
 
(fuss, dither, dither)


> The problem is, there's no way to fit the five parameters on some
sliding
> sticks. Two or three, yes.  Five, no.  Your regular round
two-paper-disk
> computers are only comparing three parameters.  (Top ring, bottom
ring,
> window.)  You could get four with a column of numbers rather than a
window,

(more dithering)

> but that's it.  Not enough dimensions.
> No, okay, I've got it. But can the circle be 12" wide?  Okay, forget
it.
> Wait, I've got it.  If you could live with a handful of paper
alculators,
> I could do it.  One for each focal length. 35mm ,40mm, 45mm, 50mm,
55mm,
> 60mm, 65mm, 70mm? And a foot wide?

The calculator may assume the focal length (say 50 mm).  It may assume
a maximum on-film deviation and film format (say 1.2mm and 35mm).  How
many paramaters does that leave?

The Polaroid Interocular Calculator I found has 5 scales (for movie
people):
1. Width of Projected Image
2. Lens-Film Distance
3. Width of Negative Image
4. Distance from Lens to Subject (encompasses near and far points)
5. Interocular [sic] Distance!!!!!!!!

There are three wheels on an odd-shaped base, one "axle".  Easy to use.

Don't make me mail it to you for "fraud analysis", Tom! ;-)

Bruce (Send Us you Favorite Pudding Recipe) Springsteen


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