Blog: history, 2 articles
Page 1 of 1
Why Roman Numerals Never Needed Zero: The Empty Column on the Counting Board
Roman numerals were never a calculator with a missing zero. Romans worked out their sums with pebbles on counting boards, where an empty column did zero's job, and used the numerals to write down the answers.
- roman numerals
PDF at 33: How a 1993 Format Outlived Its Rivals
PDF launched in 1993 with one promise, a document that looks the same everywhere. Its rivals gave their viewers away too; what set PDF apart was that Adobe also gave away the format.
