Scott Flansburg

Another so-called (even self-proclaimed) human calculator is Scott Flansburg. Flansburg, in addition to having a natural talent with mental math, show an interest in help others and thinks he knows a secret to mathematical success. In the English language, we read left to right. This is the pattern that becomes embedded in our brains from the time we learn how to read and write until the rest of our lives. In fact, I still have a seemingly random memory of preschool, when I hadn't fully learned how to write yet. I practiced writing my name on a piece of paper, and I actually wrote my name completely backwards. The letters were correct, and in the correct order, but written completely backwards, the letters pointing towards the left. I suppose at that point I regarded letters more as their own shapes rather than characters of a whole word. Of course, later on, I learned the current direction to write. Flansburg's idea is that we should read math from left to right, like English, rather than right to left, as we are taught. This eliminates carrying, which can be a tricky concept.
For example, adding 10 three-digit numbers:
457
886
432
357
536
753
657
425
124
976
Instead of going through the hassle of carrying, it is easier to do this:
400 + 800 + 400 + 300 + 500 + 700 + 600 + 400 + 100 + 900 = 5100
50 + 80 + 30 + 50 + 30 + 50 + 50 + 20 + 20 + 70 = 450
7 + 6 + 2 + 7 + 6 + 3 + 7 + 5 + 4 + 6 = 53
5100 + 450 + 53 = 5603
Simpler, right?

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Human-Calculator-uses-math-to-entertain-222999371.html
http://www.secrant.com/rant/p/40191990/Mental-Math-Genius-Claims-Humans-Are-Being-Taught-Math-Incorrectly.aspx