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Omnimaga => News => Topic started by: DJ Omnimaga on January 01, 2011, 10:04:03 am

Title: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 01, 2011, 10:04:03 am
Did you know that most TI-Nspires had a LED light at the top of it, besides the USB port?

Well, this LED was added on the regular TI-Nspire, the TI-Nspire Touchpad and the TI-Nspire CAS Touchpad models for exams in North America. Before the test, teachers activate Press-to-test mode (PTT) on the calculator to prevent students from opening any documents or programs. It also disables some functionalities such as geometry. The only way to disable PTT is to connect the calculator to another TI-Nspire or a computer.

While in PTT mode, the TI-Nspire LED flashes between 3 colors to let the teacher know the calculator press-to-test mode is enabled. It also has another signal when PTT mode is disabled. The LED cannot be controlled by any BASIC program or other calculator functions. However, from Ndless programs you can (although on OS 1.4 or higher, PTT mode must be enabled then disabled to remove the protection that TI added in that OS or newer ones). Basically, in a role-playing game, you could make the LED go green when the area is safe, yellow when you are in an area with enemies and red when a random battle is about to occur.

Critor has released a message decoder application called Norse, that demonstrates usage of the LED. Norse is some sort of evolution of Morse language. Alphanumerical characters, commas, minus symbols and spaces are recognized. The character is translated by Norse into a LED signal corresponding to the character in question. Each character are made of 1 to 3 successive LED signals.

(http://www.omnimaga.org/images/screenshots/norse.gif)
(Image from www.ti-bank.fr)

Could this in fact be used outside North America to cheat on tests, the opposite purpose than what TI intended with this feature?

Regardless of if it is used legally or not, this feature might still be useful for certain type of ASM and C games, such as the RPG example mentionned above. Maybe even some sort of Simon Says clone?

More information can be found on TI-BANK:
http://ti.bank.free.fr/index.php?mod=news&ac=commentaires&id=911

You can also download the file there:
http://ti.bank.free.fr/index.php?mod=archives&ac=voir&id=2097

There is also a discussion topic available on Omnimaga, if you don't mind extremly long and technical posts:
http://ourl.ca/8396
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 01, 2011, 10:28:35 am
Yeah, people could use ndless to turn off press to test mode :) In my country it's illegal for teachers to touch students' calculators :D But in other countries it could be useful :)
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Snake X on January 01, 2011, 10:44:41 am
ooh! I knew about the LED since the 1st nspire, and wow I must say this would be pretty cool!  Although.. wouldnt you have to memorize the led sequences to decode it upon looking at it? ;)
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: apcalc on January 01, 2011, 10:50:48 am
ooh! I knew about the LED since the 1st nspire, and wow I must say this would be pretty cool!  Although.. wouldnt you have to memorize the led sequences to decode it upon looking at it? ;)

Nope, Norse has a built in decoder.  You just have to type in the colors you see and it decodes the message for you! :)
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Snake X on January 01, 2011, 10:51:57 am
oooh! nice feature :D
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Hot_Dog on January 01, 2011, 11:15:17 am
Even if this feature could be used to cheat on a test, I'm pretty sure a teacher will notice if a student is examining the top of his calculator looking at the light.  Besides, reading a single answer in "Norse Code" is sometimes longer than just knowing the answer on a text.

Nevertheless, awesome feature!  Is it controlled with a port?
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Deep Toaster on January 01, 2011, 02:01:30 pm
Wow, awesome. Nice job ruining another of TI's "features." XD But when teachers hear about this, they'll probably just seat us in a way so that we can't see each other :(
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 01, 2011, 02:05:15 pm
Wow, awesome. Nice job ruining another of TI's "features." XD But when teachers hear about this, they'll probably just seat us in a way so that we can't see each other :(

Teachers will not hear about this, I'm pretty sure, unless if they have a secret spy in Omnimaga and ti-bank.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: JosJuice on January 01, 2011, 02:06:50 pm
Wow, awesome. Nice job ruining another of TI's "features." XD But when teachers hear about this, they'll probably just seat us in a way so that we can't see each other :(

Teachers will not hear about this, I'm pretty sure, unless if they have a secret spy in Omnimaga and ti-bank.
Maybe they'll notice once everyone in class start looking at the LEDs of calcs during tests? :P
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 01, 2011, 02:27:23 pm
haaahaha, if they do, nobody will tell her why, I guess.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Deep Toaster on January 01, 2011, 02:28:44 pm
Maybe I should email T3...
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Silver Shadow on January 01, 2011, 02:43:49 pm
Wow, awesome. Nice job ruining another of TI's "features." XD But when teachers hear about this, they'll probably just seat us in a way so that we can't see each other :(

Teachers will not hear about this, I'm pretty sure, unless if they have a secret spy in Omnimaga and ti-bank.
OH NOEZ! HOW DID YOU FIND OUT IT WAS ME?!?
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: fb39ca4 on January 01, 2011, 03:03:16 pm
If this becomes widespread, the tests will probably require people to put electrical  tape over the led, like what is currently being done with the IR ports.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Deep Toaster on January 01, 2011, 03:43:53 pm
Hmm, just realized a problem: What if teachers start blocking TI-BANK and Omnimaga? (They're already blocked at my school, so I don't really care, but other schools...)
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: jnesselr on January 01, 2011, 04:42:38 pm
I have all internet blocked, so that's no problem for me.

As for the led, I think the only way this is useful is if there is some way a calc itself can read it.  Otherwise, the teacher might notice a person staring at another calculator making notes of which color means what. ;-)

I really don't see the point of all of these anti-testing measures.  If you want to make it absolutely "fair", give everyone a TI-83 or something.  Granted, this could be difficult in some cases, but still.  I took a program called "A" in on a test that just displayed "Does anyone clear ram?".  No one checks this stuff.

I guess it's just me, but I would try and do my best without cheating.  There's no point otherwise.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 01, 2011, 06:48:44 pm
I personally think that if the teacher sees his student constantly look at the LED or even students looking behind at it, and see the LED flashes differently, they'll find it suspicious.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: critor on January 01, 2011, 06:57:28 pm
It would really be funny, if all TI-Nspire were required to have black electric tape on the LED in order to be used in exams!  :P
(like the HP-48/49 in some states)

Epic fail from TI...
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: apcalc on January 01, 2011, 06:59:51 pm
It would really be funny, if all TI-Nspire were required to have black electric tape on the LED in order to be used in exams!  :P
(like the HP-48/49 in some states)

Epic fail from TI...

And just think, if they hadn't prevented downgrading on OS 2.1... ;D
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: critor on January 01, 2011, 07:02:22 pm
It would really be funny, if all TI-Nspire were required to have black electric tape on the LED in order to be used in exams!  :P
(like the HP-48/49 in some states)

Epic fail from TI...

And just think, if they hadn't prevented downgrading on OS 2.1... ;D

Nspire forbidden in exams? :P
(but there is Nleash you know... they aren't preventing anything :P )
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: fb39ca4 on January 01, 2011, 07:57:34 pm
Hmm, just realized a problem: What if teachers start blocking TI-BANK and Omnimaga? (They're already blocked at my school, so I don't really care, but other schools...)
At my school, most forums, and all blogs are blocked. Te librarian says its because those are individuals posting the stuff so its hard to control the content, but then theres a whole bunch of other stuff made by individuals that goes right through the filter. Personally, I dont see the need for filtering anything but pr0n.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 01, 2011, 08:33:04 pm
Same here. Some schools probably try to make sure students use the computers for school work and not go on gaming sites, but if there are a lot of computers available and you're done with school work, I don't see why we should be restricted so much. Maybe block downloadable files if you're too scared of students downloading viruses but not entire sites, at least not legal/clean ones.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 01, 2011, 09:30:12 pm
Hmm, just realized a problem: What if teachers start blocking TI-BANK and Omnimaga? (They're already blocked at my school, so I don't really care, but other schools...)
At my school, most forums, and all blogs are blocked. Te librarian says its because those are individuals posting the stuff so its hard to control the content, but then theres a whole bunch of other stuff made by individuals that goes right through the filter. Personally, I dont see the need for filtering anything but pr0n.

I don't even see the need of filtering pr0n, except in countries where watching it is illegal, law I can't yet understand.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: fb39ca4 on January 01, 2011, 09:34:54 pm
Its a school ...
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: willrandship on January 01, 2011, 09:41:56 pm
Anyways...why bother with the LED when you can just attach a wifi-USB dongle? :P Access the internetz in class :P
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 02, 2011, 01:19:38 am
Its a school ...
This. In North America, you must be 18 years or older to watch adult material.

As for the LED it's still kinda interesting, plus not everyone might want to buy an USB dongle. The trick is to push the calculator to its full potential without the need of third-party hardware.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Deep Toaster on January 02, 2011, 10:13:27 am
Nspire forbidden in exams? :P

Maybe then they'll give us a calculator we want :P
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: JosJuice on January 02, 2011, 10:18:22 am
Nspire forbidden in exams? :P

Maybe then they'll give us a calculator we want :P
That would be awesome.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: critor on January 02, 2011, 11:10:46 am
Anyways...why bother with the LED when you can just attach a wifi-USB dongle? :P Access the internetz in class :P


Why?

1) Just try to program a driver if you can...

2) The WiFi-USB dongle can be removed by teachers. The LED cannot be removed... easily :P
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 02, 2011, 11:12:12 am
Removing the LED would involve opening your calc, behind the LCD, right?
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: critor on January 02, 2011, 11:13:55 am
Removing the LED would involve opening your calc, behind the LCD, right?

You might also use an ice spike to destroy the LED :P
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 02, 2011, 11:14:42 am
Removing the LED would involve opening your calc, behind the LCD, right?

You might also use an ice spike to destroy the LED :P

Can ndless deactivate it? I'm pretty sure it can, right?
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: JosJuice on January 02, 2011, 11:15:09 am
Removing the LED would involve opening your calc, behind the LCD, right?

You might also use an ice spike to destroy the LED :P
Or they could use tape to cover the LED, without actually destroying it.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 02, 2011, 11:16:02 am
tape? That would be easily noticed, don't you want something unrecognizable?
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: critor on January 02, 2011, 11:18:56 am
tape? That would be easily noticed, don't you want something unrecognizable?

It's teachers who would be asking you to add black electric tape on the LED to prevent you from sharing data.

In some states, it's what happens to HP-48 calculators (infrared diode).
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Deep Toaster on January 02, 2011, 11:19:34 am
tape? That would be easily noticed, don't you want something unrecognizable?

It's teachers who would be asking you to add black electric tape on the LED to prevent you from sharing data.

In some states, it's what happens to HP-48 calculators (infrared diode).

Really? Did people use that to cheat?

EDIT: Found it: http://www.ticalc.org/archives/news/articles/1/15/15624.html?p=2 (the comment by zeromegax halfway down).
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 02, 2011, 09:46:53 pm
Wow I didn't realize HPs could do that. Interesting...
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: SirCmpwn on January 02, 2011, 10:53:15 pm
Come to think of it, it could be an interesting project to build a USB WiFi dongle that fits perfectly into the Nspire's little insert.
Spoiler For Spoiler:
Is "dongle" the technical name?  I've always wondered...
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: fb39ca4 on January 03, 2011, 04:38:33 pm
Come to think of it, it could be an interesting project to build a USB WiFi dongle that fits perfectly into the Nspire's little insert.
Spoiler For Spoiler:
Is "dongle" the technical name?  I've always wondered...
No, it would just be an adapter. A dongle, in correct definition, is a small, well, dongle, you must plug in to a computer to make a piece of software run. (Its an anti piracy protection.)
That would be very cool, but it could be also done using the bottom port, with some sort of mechanism to hold itself in place so it doesn't come out and fits perfectly in the spot.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: jnesselr on January 03, 2011, 09:36:25 pm
Come to think of it, it could be an interesting project to build a USB WiFi dongle that fits perfectly into the Nspire's little insert.
Spoiler For Spoiler:
Is "dongle" the technical name?  I've always wondered...
No, it would just be an adapter. A dongle, in correct definition, is a small, well, dongle, you must plug in to a computer to make a piece of software run. (Its an anti piracy protection.)
That would be very cool, but it could be also done using the bottom port, with some sort of mechanism to hold itself in place so it doesn't come out and fits perfectly in the spot.
It's also used for bluetooth adaptors. (dongle)
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: willrandship on January 03, 2011, 10:38:56 pm
Does the bottom port also have a USB connection? Cool. I saw a mention of an SD host, maybe we could expand the space through that. Maybe it's also hooked to the bottom port :P maybe :P
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: fb39ca4 on January 04, 2011, 06:42:41 am
It has some sort of interface, as it is used for TI's wireless adapter.
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: turiqwalrus on January 06, 2011, 11:41:56 pm
very cool. Just look at the possibilities of infrared file transfer. I can already see phones with texting capabilities.

EDIT: Oh, fun. 50th post. now I suppose I'll have to snag one of runer's trophies.

EDIT2: Got easter eggs already. almost got funkypong, but my browser crashed at 10116
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 07, 2011, 02:30:19 am
very cool. Just look at the possibilities of infrared file transfer. I can already see phones with texting capabilities.

EDIT: Oh, fun. 50th post. now I suppose I'll have to snag one of runer's trophies.
/me points turiqwalrus to the Starcraft game in the arcade. ;D
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: fb39ca4 on January 07, 2011, 04:47:13 pm
/me says Starcraft is a very fun game
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Deep Toaster on January 09, 2011, 09:55:59 am
/me says Starcraft is a very fun game
/me says it would be awesome on an Nspire
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 10, 2011, 02:37:06 pm
/me says Starcraft is a very fun game
/me says it would be awesome on an Nspire
The Starcraft game in the arcade or the real one? :P
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: Munchor on January 10, 2011, 02:52:09 pm
/me says Starcraft is a very fun game
/me says it would be awesome on an Nspire
The Starcraft game in the arcade or the real one? :P

The Arcade one doesn't look at all like the real one (to me).
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: apcalc on January 10, 2011, 03:32:16 pm
/me says Starcraft is a very fun game
/me says it would be awesome on an Nspire
The Starcraft game in the arcade or the real one? :P

The Arcade one doesn't look at all like the real one (to me).


The Starcraft Game is the arcade is clearly superior to the real one! ;)
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: turiqwalrus on January 10, 2011, 03:56:28 pm
OK, I'll try it now.
[/OFFTOPIC]

EDIT: really? that's REALLY AMAZING, that game
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: fb39ca4 on January 10, 2011, 05:24:25 pm
Yeah, we knew you'd love it!
Title: Re: Yes, the TI-Nspire has a LED.
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on January 11, 2011, 04:16:53 am
OK, I'll try it now.
[/OFFTOPIC]

EDIT: really? that's REALLY AMAZING, that game
Did you manage to win The Game? ;D

Anyway back on topic, I hope to see the Nspire LED be used in some more games. Has anyone thought about trying to do some sort of Simon Says game using LED color codes?