Author Topic: Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator  (Read 10693 times)

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Offline Spyro543

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Project DreamCalc - Making a graphing calculator
« on: June 24, 2011, 05:12:15 pm »
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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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.

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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

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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)
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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. ;)
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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

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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
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