Early computing devices included basic materials like fingers and toes, pebbles, grains, cowries, sticks, and tally marks that were used for counting before modern technology. These early counting devices had problems in that they could not easily count large numbers, were time-consuming, took up significant space, and required availability of limited materials. The document defines early computing devices and lists examples like fingers, pebbles, grains, cowries, and sticks that were used for counting in early ages before mechanical devices.

1. Thursday, October 13, 2016

2. 
At the end of the lesson, I should be able to:
(a) Define early computing devices
(b) List and explain early computing devices
Learning Outcomes

3. 
Early computing devices are materials used in the early ages for
counting or arithmetic purposes.
Early compuiting devices include:
1) Fingers and toes: ten fingers and ten toes were used to keep
account of days, weeks, trade, children etc.
2) Pebbles: are small round stones that were used for counting
3) Grains – gotten from corn, beans, rice etc., were also used for
counting
4) Cowries: these are brightly coloured molluscs with a central
toothed opening. They were used as money and as counting aid.
5) Sticks: these include canes, clubs and shaped wood used for
measuring land an areas.
6) Writing on the wall: in early ages man learnt to use objects like
charcoal, mud, limestone & chalk to write strokes (tally) or draw
on the wall for counting and record keeping.

4. 
1. Read up the topic: mechanical counting devices
2. List four mechanical devices
3. Write problems associated with early counting
devices
Assignment

5. 
1) Fingers and toes:
2) Pebbles:
3) Grains
4) Cowries
5) Sticks
6) Tally
Word List

6. 
1. They can be used to count large numbers
2. It time wasting
3. It takes a lot of space
4. One may have limited materials
Problems with early counting devices