h a l f b a k e r y"Bun is such a sad word, is it not?" -- Watt, "Waiting for Godot"
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Calculators are getting pretty advance these days.
But what would be nice, is if NFC tags are
supported (For read
and writing. And optionally a camera to read QR
codes.
At the most basic, you can write the content of the
calculator
memory to the tag, or read it back.
Perhaps you can
also write custom symbols for the
memory content, e.g. constants
More advance application could be storing macros,
or small programs. E.g. custom functions e.g.
mmToKm(dist).
[link]
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This could be implemented as an app on a tablet, which would have the advantage that the tablet is a general purpose device and could also run compiers for FORTRAN and C, as well as a BASIC interpreter. |
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However, there is something to be said in favour of a device with phyisical keys as a user imterface. |
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Good point, but I would hope that the format is
standardized enough to be used interchangeably between
"physical keys calculators" and "tablet apps". |
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And that means having a programming language that is as
close to "calculator notation" as possible. E.g. "10^3"
instead
of "pow(10)". Also must have complex number support
"23+2i" or "53/_32". And finally, it needs to allow for
compact source code, with a lightweight interpreter fit
for a micro controller. |
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Here is some brainstorming of a compact code, that
would
hopefully be minimal characters but still be useful.: |
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someFunc( A=1 :? acceleration of object, M=4 :? mass of
object ){
if(M==0){ 0; !! } if(M==INF){ !err:"unbounded"! } ;
M*A } :? "This calculates force" |
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If you ask help for someFunc, it says in calculator screen |
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"someFunc:: A: acceleration of object, M: mass of object,
(Default: A=1 M=4) :- This
calculates force" |
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This would show the default values for A and M, and a
short
description of it. Also to do assign value, you type
"varName=value". |
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Much like ruby, unless a return value is specified (e.g.
!ANS!) ,
the
return value is automatically the last answer held in ANS
register (Triggered at end of function, or if "!!" is said). |
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As for tablets, while the technology to make "glass keyboards" has been around for some years, users still seem to favour the electromechanical versions. |
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Given the inherent ability of a touchscreen keyboard to be dynamically reconfigured, the conclusion must be that they lack the tactile feedback that users want. |
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