I wanted to track my progress to the highest level of detail possible. The motor motions are somewhat similar, but slightly more complex, than typing on the keyboard. But since I already type fluently I wouldn't be able to get as fresh data, so the soroban was a nice other task.

The main goals were to track learning progress and truly experience what it meant to have a virtual abacus in my mind's eye.

Honored to get a comment from you!

I haven't had to use a soroban in many years, but I did use one, along with a slide rule, in high school physics.