Slide Rule
A slide rule is a calculator that refuses to speak in digits. It just… slides.
This is a toy, not a lab instrument. The vibe is: approximate, tactile, smug.
operation
log scale (1 → 10)
cursor: —
result: —
<svg id="rule" viewBox="0 0 1000 140" width="100%" height="140" role="img" aria-label="slide rule toy">
<rect x="10" y="20" width="980" height="40" rx="10" fill="white" stroke="rgba(0,0,0,.25)" />
<rect x="10" y="80" width="980" height="40" rx="10" fill="white" stroke="rgba(0,0,0,.25)" />
<g id="ticks"></g>
<!-- slider group (second scale) -->
<g id="slider"></g>
<!-- cursor -->
<g id="cur">
<line id="curLine" x1="500" y1="14" x2="500" y2="126" stroke="rgba(0,0,0,.65)" stroke-width="2"/>
<rect x="492" y="10" width="16" height="120" rx="8" fill="rgba(255,255,255,.6)" stroke="rgba(0,0,0,.15)"/>
</g>
</svg>
how it works
On a slide rule, multiplication becomes addition in log space. We fake the look: position = log10(value) mapped onto a 0–1 rail.