A few days ago, I was
finishing up my math homework—which of course, involved many long calculations—when I suddenly had an
epiphany. I noticed that my dear graphing calculator, with its complicated
functions most of which I still find perplexing, is bulky and just that:
complex. As I continued the long calculation with the constant fear of clicking
a wrong button that will undoubtedly lead to redoing the whole equation once
again, I mournfully longed for the simple questions from so long ago (actually,
just a year) using only the basic, light calculator that accompanied me
throughout much of elementary school. But then again, that calculator would
have been useless now, as the calculations now demand to only be solved by this
evolved structure. With this realization, I gleefully thought, hey, this is
just like one of the evolutionary novelties we learned in Bio; I can write
about that. Allowing myself to celebrate a bit, I then proceeded to finish my
homework.
 | | | | |
| Simple calculator |
 |
| Then.. | | |
 |
| More functions.. |
|
 |
| To this! |
|
As the simpler version
of a calculator is still useful, performing the same basic function and the
graphing calculator is really, a (very, very) complex structure evolved from
it, it seemed very fitting for the evolutionary novelties concepts. Like the
patch of sensory cells that detect light for a limpet—a function that appears
to be useless to humans with our more intricate eyes and demanding daily
activities, it is still very useful to them contrary to our beliefs, as they do
benefit greatly from it. In the same light, the calculator, however simple it
appears to be now, is still a very useful instrument in the world of minimal
mathematical needs (say, back in elementary school as well as adding up bills).
I remembered a time when only numbers and basic mathematical signs were needed,
before square root and squares came into the equation, followed by the
functions of a scientific calculator. Evolving by increments throughout the
years at school, the calculator at last, became the bulky tool that I just love.
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