Volwells - “analog applications” of the past from paper / Appodeal Blog

This is an analog paper “app,” Volwell. The fact that the photo shows a flight portable computer (a relatively modern Volwell).

Each modern program, thanks to its thoughtful (we will optimistic about things) interface, allows a person to quickly receive the necessary information. In order to get the data, you need to move the screen with your fingertip, and voila, the information is already here. You may be surprised, but this idea has not appeared in our time. She is hundreds of years old!

Of course, for many dozens, and even hundreds of years ago, there were no screens, especially touch screens. But there were so-called volwells, they can be called the ancestors of modern applications. What is a volwell? Let’s talk about this a little lower, and now - imagine how they used to determine time in the old days without the presence of a portable clockwork.

Indeed, in the first half of the last millennium, it was necessary to work hard, even in order to find out the time. This could be done using an expensive device called astrolabe. By setting up the device, and knowing the current date, it was possible to find out the time to the nearest minute. By the way, you can put a modern version of astrolabia on your phone, and try to work with it.

Using wheels to work with data is an ancient way. The creators of the Antikythera mechanism knew it perfectly . In the Middle Ages, mechanical watches appeared that showed time already regardless of the sun, date or position of the planets. But all these devices were quite expensive, because their manufacture required metal, leather, wood and, in some cases, precious stones (these are already elite versions for the powerful).

But there were also "younger" versions of such devices that were created from paper. They were called volwells, and began to create them somewhere in the 11th century. In any case, the first mentions of volwells appeared precisely in the sources of the 11th century. Initially, these “analog applications” were invested in astronomy, which Arab scientists originally worked on. The 11th and 12th centuries can be called golden for Arab culture and science.

In the 13th century, volwells began to spread throughout Europe, along with other Arab ideas and inventions. Systems of this type began to be used to work with astronomical data, because working with them is very effective, and a lot of time is saved. No need to look into reference books, remember dozens of formulas. We enter one number, twist the volwell, we get the output.


Volwell of the 15th Century (Source - British Library )

But the most active distribution of the world throughout the world was in the 19th century. It is interesting that most of the volwellas of that time also served as advertising. They were created by printing houses with the money of producers of products or household goods. Such "applications" could be used to calculate the nutritional value of products, as an instrument of training, play or astrological forecast. It was a bit of native advertising, which we already wrote about on our blog.



Of course, far from all the volvells were entertaining in nature. There were also very complex systems that made it possible to get quick access to technical information. Probably one of the most well-known systems of this type is the volvella, which allowed scientists to quickly calculate the consequences of a nuclear explosion. Yes, as we see, modern scientists also actively worked with “paper applications”.


Trigonometer Already very similar to the design of modern mobile applications, right?

Previously, these paper “applications” could be seen in almost every home and office. Instead of a query in the Google search engine, about 50 years ago, a person simply turned a paper wheel, trying to find the answer to his question (trigonometric formula, calorific value of a certain product, etc.).


And this is a modern volwell, 2009

Despite the fact that paper volvolles are created, they are quite durable. These “apps” are just as effective as mobile apps. The interface of each such system is thought out and refined, it is a pleasure to use volwells. This is a kind of technological miracle, the development of which takes a lot of time.


Need to lose weight fast? Then it’s worth using the appropriate paper “application”.

Volveles are still being issued. There are not so many of them as before, but they are still popular. Like many years ago, they are used for advertising purposes - for example, some banks issue volvolles. Such an “analog application” from the bank allows you to calculate the percentage of the deposit, as an example.

Volwells used to be expensive (and the first Volwells were generally sold for gold), because the people who created them spent a lot of time and effort. Applications are now much more accessible to all or generally free. Whereby? Thanks to progress, advertising helps, and Appodeal helps all of this.