IBM has released the ?Minds of Modern Mathematics? ipad app to celebrate the history of maths and its impact on the world today. The app is a digitized version of a 50-foot-long math timeline that was designed by Charles and Ray Eames as part of an IBM-sponsored math exhibit at the 1964 World’s Fair.
The Minds of Modern Mathematics app brings you on a journey of 1000 years of the history of Mathematics spanning 1000-1960. It is filled with historical images, facts and biographies.
There are more than 500 biographies, milestone and nice facts for users to click thru. There is also a high-resolution image of the original timeline poster from the 1964 World?s fair. The app also has an “IBM Mathematics Peep Show,” that features short animated films by Charles and Ray Eames that offer lessons on mathematical concepts, from exponents to the way ancient Greeks measured the earth.
You may wonder why IBM is involved in developing this nifty app. This is because IBM has the largest mathematics department in the world and mathematics remains at the core of IBMs technical innovation.
?Careers of the future will rely heavily on creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration, all themes that were core to the ?Minds of Modern Mathematics? movement and remain equally relevant today,?
?What better way than a mobile app to reintroduce this timeless classic to inspire a new generation of learners?”
Chid Apte, IBM director of analytics research and mathematical sciences
My thoughts
I am not a math wiz, although I did thoroughly enjoy the subject as a student. It was probably the problem solving aspect that appealed to me most about mathematics. However I am not highlighting this app because of its mathematic component.
Minds of Modern Mathematics is a wonderfully crafted App that really exemplifies the iPad as a tool for presenting information. I enjoyed scrolling thru the Infographic and tapping on specific instances in history to read about biographies of mathematicians or other happenings that affected the mathematic world.
For example:
Chin Chiu Shao (1202-1261) was a colorful Chinese character that enlisted in the army at 17 and later became a provincial governor. He was a mathematician and wrote ?The 9 Section of mathematics?, which techniques were used to solve polynomial equations ? the same techniques were later expanded by Ruffi-Horner in the 19th century in their method of working with polynomials.
What is interesting is that the interconnected body of works in mathematics that is constantly being built upon actually culminates into many of the modern technologies today.
In my opinion, the App is an interesting read for parents, teachers and students alike. Seeing that ?Minds of Modern Mathematics? is free there is no reason why you shouldn?t download it.
