The paper reviews the hyperbolic numbers, which popped up in several areas of mathematics and physics for a considerable long time. The properties and abilities of this binary numbers constituting a ring are examined, e.g., the light-cone structure hyperbolic Euler formula, relation to \(1+1\)-dimensional wave equations, hyperbolic holomorphy, iteration processes and more. Lastly, the Clifford algebra structure of binary number systems is unfolded.
An excellent historical section is added, showing the ubiquitous occurrence of hyperbolic numbers, historical accidents and utilizations. A critical and sharply formulated conclusion discusses the value of different approaches to the topic and its place in the scientific landscape. This two sections alone would be worth reading the paper anyway.