Author Topic: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator  (Read 12116 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Spyro543

  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1189
  • Rating: +74/-3
    • View Profile
Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« on: June 24, 2011, 05:12:15 pm »
Spoiler For original post:
Some of you have probably heard of my DreamPad project of building a mobile programming device. I won't talk much about it here, but I am totally rebooting the project. This is going to be a graphing calculator - and instead of figuring out how it would look first, I want to figure out what it is made up of first:
(Finished questions are in GREEN)

Screen Resolution: 320x240
Screen type: COLOR
A "Teacher Mode" / Press To Test: YES
Backlight: YES
Navigation type: ARROW KEYS
Wi-Fi capabilities: YES (and have a hardware switch to toggle)
USB functionality: YES (viewing USB devices on calc)
USB connection to computer: MASS STORAGE
Battery type: RECHARGEABLE (recharge through USB)
Dev board / processor type: BeagleBoard xM (It has an ARM processor)
Letter input type: ALPHA BUTTON
Sound: THROUGH HEADPHONES
Name: DreamCalc - Changed because of possible legal issues with Casio (ClassPad).
Now look at this BeagleBoard xM. These will be the specs for my graphing calculator:

It would be nice for a graphing calc, but is this a calculator or a laptop? I think this board would be better for the DreamPad instead of the DreamCalc...
« Last Edit: June 26, 2011, 06:02:49 pm by Spyro543 »

Offline XVicarious

  • LV6 Super Member (Next: 500)
  • ******
  • Posts: 485
  • Rating: +45/-28
  • I F**king Love Twisty Puzzles
    • View Profile
    • XVicarious
Re: Project DreamPad - A total reboot - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2011, 05:13:36 pm »
Okay...
USB functionality is a must, as is WiFi, how else are you going to connect it to the computer?

Offline DJ Omnimaga

  • Clacualters are teh gr33t
  • CoT Emeritus
  • LV15 Omnimagician (Next: --)
  • *
  • Posts: 55943
  • Rating: +3154/-232
  • CodeWalrus founder & retired Omnimaga founder
    • View Profile
    • Dream of Omnimaga Music
Re: Project DreamPad - A total reboot - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2011, 05:19:56 pm »
It would be nice to see this revived. About wi-fi would it eat batteries a lot, though? A teacher mode is a must, though, because if it has wi-fi or a CAS, for example, it needs to be disablable, to not end up with the calc banned from classes. Also no qwerty/dvorak/azerty keyboard, that way it is allowed on tests.

For screen resolutions, I do not know much about those, but a standard 320x240, 320x200 would fit my needs well.

Offline Spyro543

  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1189
  • Rating: +74/-3
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamPad - A total reboot - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2011, 05:37:22 pm »
If you look, your ideas are up on my first post. :D

Offline XVicarious

  • LV6 Super Member (Next: 500)
  • ******
  • Posts: 485
  • Rating: +45/-28
  • I F**king Love Twisty Puzzles
    • View Profile
    • XVicarious
Re: Project DreamPad - A total reboot - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2011, 05:40:10 pm »
Screen: color
Wifi: I wouldn't say no yet, or have an option to turn it on and off. My old laptop had a physical switch to toggle wifi
USB: Mass storage, yes... Easiest route. Linking software would have to be written. If hte OS is based on Linux, then have the device mount only the home folder when you connect it to the computer.
Processor: I'd use an ARM, which one I don't know but mobile devices use ARM like 90% of the time (NDS, iPod, Nspire)
Keyboard: ALPHA would be fine, but if you could add support for a USB keyboard that would be great
Sound: Thru headphones
« Last Edit: June 24, 2011, 05:41:47 pm by jkag »

Offline Spyro543

  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1189
  • Rating: +74/-3
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamPad - A total reboot - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2011, 06:00:30 pm »
Thanks for everyone's help! (No really, it helps! ;D) Now I think I should start thinking of the keyboard design and maybe some mockups. :D

Offline JosJuice

  • LV10 31337 u53r (Next: 2000)
  • **********
  • Posts: 1344
  • Rating: +66/-14
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamPad - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2011, 04:10:23 am »
I would prefer a 320x240 screen over a 320x200 one - 320x240 is a very common resolution, and that makes it easy to (for example) port images and programs to it. (Plus, I don't like widescreen :P)
Wi-Fi would be awesome to have, but I'm not sure if it will be allowed on tests if it's built in, even if you can turn it off... Those tests can be quite restricted. For example, one doesn't allow calcs with IR communication even if you block the IR port.
Accessing USB drives (and keyboard/mouse?) from the calc would be nice.

Offline Spyro543

  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1189
  • Rating: +74/-3
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamPad - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2011, 08:57:38 am »
Would it be too early to make a mockup? I already have some ideas for the keyboard layout!

Offline Munchor

  • LV13 Extreme Addict (Next: 9001)
  • *************
  • Posts: 6199
  • Rating: +295/-121
  • Code Recycler
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2011, 06:42:31 am »
I was so excited about a portable programming device (DreamPad), a graphing calculator is ok, but I still dream of a "DreamPad" :)

Offline Spyro543

  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1189
  • Rating: +74/-3
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2011, 09:07:25 am »
Wow, I might just make a DreamPad for programming...Although I want to make a standard tablet computer running UNR2D 10.10.

Offline Scipi

  • Omni Kitten Meow~ =^ω^=
  • LV10 31337 u53r (Next: 2000)
  • **********
  • Posts: 1547
  • Rating: +192/-3
  • Meow :3
    • View Profile
    • ScipiSoftware
Re: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2011, 01:15:00 pm »
Backlight: Yes or no?
Navigation type: Arrow keys or some other way (touchpad...trackball...)
Battery type: AA or AAA and/or rechargeable?

Backlight: YES! I would like to be able to program without having to turn on the lights. :P

Navigation type: Arrow keys.

Batteries:AA & Rechargeable. Save money in the long run. And AA are more common. :P

And portable programming device. You stole my idea! I can't believe someone is actually making this! ;D This reminds me of Uber GFX. :P

Imma Cat! =^_^= :3 (It's an emoticon now!)
Spoiler For Things I find interesting:
Spoiler For AI Programming:
Spoiler For Shameless advertising:

Spoiler For OldSig:





Spoiler For IMPORTANT NEWS!:
Late last night, Quebec was invaded by a group calling themselves, "Omnimaga". Not much is known about these mysterious people except that they all carried calculators of some kind and they all seemed to converge on one house in particular. Experts estimate that the combined power of their fabled calculators is greater than all the worlds super computers put together. The group seems to be holding out in the home of a certain DJ_O, who the Omnimagians claim to be their founder. Such power has put the world at a standstill with everyone waiting to see what the Omnimagians will do...

Wait... This just in, the Omnimagians have sent the UN a list of demands that must be met or else the world will be "submitted to the wrath of Netham45's Lobster Army". Such demands include >9001 crates of peanuts, sacrificial blue lobsters, and a wide assortment of cherry flavored items. With such computing power stored in the hands of such people, we can only hope these demands are met.

In the wake of these events, we can only ask, Why? Why do these people make these demands, what caused them to gather, and what are their future plans...

Offline ruler501

  • Meep
  • LV11 Super Veteran (Next: 3000)
  • ***********
  • Posts: 2475
  • Rating: +66/-9
  • Crazy Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2011, 02:33:35 pm »
Backlight: Yes or no?
Navigation type: Arrow keys or some other way (touchpad...trackball...)
Battery type: AA or AAA and/or rechargeable?

Backlight: YES! I would like to be able to program without having to turn on the lights. :P

Navigation type: Arrow keys.

Batteries:AA & Rechargeable. Save money in the long run. And AA are more common. :P

And portable programming device. You stole my idea! I can't believe someone is actually making this! ;D This reminds me of Uber GFX. :P
BackLight: Most definitely, but it lso needs o work in sunlight if thats possible.

Navigation. I like trackball or touchpad

Batteries:AA(more available and rechargeable(money saver)
I currently don't do much, but I am a developer for a game you should totally try out called AssaultCube Reloaded download here https://assaultcuber.codeplex.com/
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
GCM/CS/M/S d- s++: a---- C++ UL++ P+ L++ E---- W++ N o? K- w-- o? !M V?
PS+ PE+ Y+ PGP++ t 5? X R tv-- b+++ DI+ D+ G++ e- h! !r y

Offline alberthrocks

  • Moderator
  • LV8 Addict (Next: 1000)
  • ********
  • Posts: 876
  • Rating: +103/-10
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2011, 02:36:15 pm »
I recall seeing that... the beagleboard! :D (xM version, that is!)
Good luck! :D This is very likely to become the "OTARM" (you can name it differently of course) - we had the exact same ideas in mind, just not much progress. ;)
Withgusto Networks Founder and Administrator
Main Server Status: http://withg.org/status/
Backup Server Status: Not available
Backup 2/MC Server Status: http://mc.withg.org/status/


Proud member of ClrHome!

Miss my old signature? Here it is!
Spoiler For Signature:
Alternate "New" IRC post notification bot (Newy) down? Go here to reset it! http://withg.org/albert/cpuhero/

Withgusto Networks Founder and Administrator
Main Server Status: http://withg.org/status/
Backup Server Status: Not available
Backup 2/MC Server Status: http://mc.withg.org/status/

Activity remains limited due to busyness from school et al. Sorry! :( Feel free to PM, email, or if you know me well enough, FB me if you have a question/concern. :)

Don't expect me to be online 24/7 until summer. Contact me via FB if you feel it's urgent.


Proud member of ClrHome!

Spoiler For "My Projects! :D":
Projects:

Computer/Web/IRC Projects:
C______c: 0% done (Doing planning and trying to not forget it :P)
A_____m: 40% done (Need to develop a sophisticated process queue, and a pretty web GUI)
AtomBot v3.0: 0% done (Planning stage, may do a litmus test of developer wants in the future)
IdeaFrenzy: 0% done (Planning and trying to not forget it :P)
wxWabbitemu: 40% done (NEED MOAR FEATURES :P)

Calculator Projects:
M__ C_____ (an A____ _____ clone): 0% done (Need to figure out physics and Axe)
C2I: 0% done (planning, checking the demand for it, and dreaming :P)

Offline DJ Omnimaga

  • Clacualters are teh gr33t
  • CoT Emeritus
  • LV15 Omnimagician (Next: --)
  • *
  • Posts: 55943
  • Rating: +3154/-232
  • CodeWalrus founder & retired Omnimaga founder
    • View Profile
    • Dream of Omnimaga Music
Re: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2011, 02:44:02 pm »
Backlight: Yes, with the ability to change its brightness like on the Casio Prizm.
Navigation type: Arrow keys. Touchscreen would be nice if it doesn't ban the calculator from tests.
Battery type: Preferably rechargeable via USB

Offline ruler501

  • Meep
  • LV11 Super Veteran (Next: 3000)
  • ***********
  • Posts: 2475
  • Rating: +66/-9
  • Crazy Programmer
    • View Profile
Re: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« Reply #14 on: June 26, 2011, 02:49:51 pm »
Battery type: Preferably rechargeable via USB
Definitely rechargeable by usb
I currently don't do much, but I am a developer for a game you should totally try out called AssaultCube Reloaded download here https://assaultcuber.codeplex.com/
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
GCM/CS/M/S d- s++: a---- C++ UL++ P+ L++ E---- W++ N o? K- w-- o? !M V?
PS+ PE+ Y+ PGP++ t 5? X R tv-- b+++ DI+ D+ G++ e- h! !r y