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Volvelle


A volvelle or wheel chart is a type of slide chart, a paper construction with rotating parts. It is considered an early example of a paper analog computer. Volvelles have been produced to accommodate organization and calculation in many diverse subjects. Early examples of volvelles are found in the pages of astronomy books. They can be traced back to "certain Arabic treatises on humoral medicine" and to the Persian astronomer, Abu Rayhan Biruni (c. 1000), who made important contributions to the development of the volvelle.

In the twentieth century, the volvelle had many diverse uses. In Reinventing the Wheel, author Jessica Helfand introduces twentieth-century volvelles with this:

The rock band Led Zeppelin employed a volvelle in the sleeve design for the album Led Zeppelin III (1970).

Two games from the game company Infocom included volvelles inside their package as "feelies": Sorcerer (1983) and A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985). Both volvelles served to impede copying of the games, because they contained information needed to play the game.

The most ancient example of a simple volvelle was the pentagram from Hammurabi's day that has become the symbol of witchcraft. It is actually the path of Venus in 8 years and it does rotate in full circle in a span of 1199 or 1215 years. (1200×365 days or 5×243 years) But owing to Venus averaging 583.92 days, the 750 synodic orbits in 1200 years (750×584 days) has a correction of 60 days less, or 30 days less in 600 years. This is to be noted when the ancient Great Year of 600 years is said to be oriental, and the oriental calendar includes a 60-day cycle. However, the 600-year calendar (cycle) is assumed to be Jupiter by equating it with 12-year calendar.


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