Google Has Logo For Shakuntala Devi, The Human Computer

At first the logo looks somewhat like a ticking time bomb, but in reality, it is to show off Shakuntala Devi awesome human computing powers. 

This logo specifically depicts her 1982 Guinness Book of Records where she demonstrated the multiplication of two 13-digit numbers 7,686,369,774,870 × 2,465,099,745,779 picked at random by the Computer Department of Imperial College, London. She correctly answered 18,947,668,177,995,426,462,773,730 in 28 seconds.

Devi was born on November 4, 1929 in Bangalore, India and passed on April 21, 2013 at the age of 83. For more on her life see Wikipedia.

Shakuntala Devi November 4, 1929 – April 21, 2013

Shakuntala Devi

The first I ever heard of Shakuntala Devi was a long time ago, when I stumbled across her book Figuring: The Joy of Numbers in the WH Smith's bookstore in Birmingham, W Mids. Dad had business in Brum, and we all came along for the day.

When I came along with the book, Mum was scared that it was some sort of black magic text. It wasn't - quite the opposite, in fact - and the book never left my bookshelves and relocated with me wherever I went.

Figuring: The Joy of Numbers became one of the most useful and helpful books I have ever had. It turned what could have become a fear of mathematics into a love of mathematics, and Figuring: The Joy of Numbers helped me to ace university and, later, work. Catalysed by the book and inspired by further experience, I learned to be familiar and comfortable with numbers, calculation, mental arithmetic and mathematics thanks to Shakuntala Devi's early influence in my life.

I just heard of her death today, and I share the great sadness all of India must feel. A great and beautiful mind is no more, and the world is diminshed for the passing of a woman whom I have long held with the highest esteem.