Programmable calculator: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Can automatically carry out a stored sequence of operations}}

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'''Programmable calculators''' are [[calculator]]s that can automatically carry out a sequence of operations under the control of a stored [[computer programming|program]]. Most are [[Turing complete]], and, as such, are theoretically general-purpose computers. However, their user interfaces and programming environments are specifically tailored to make performing small-scale numerical computations convenient, rather than for general-purpose use.

The first programmable calculators such as the [[IBM CPC]] used [[punched cards]] or other media for program storage. Hand-held electronic calculators store programs on magnetic strips, removable read-only memory cartridges, flash memory, or in battery-backed read/write memory.

Since the early 1990s, most of these flexible handheld units belong to the class of [[graphing calculator]]s. Before the mass-manufacture of inexpensive [[dot-matrix]] [[LCD]]s, however, programmable calculators usually featured a one-line numeric or [[alphanumeric]] display. The Big Four manufacturers of programmable calculators are [[Casio]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]], and [[Texas Instruments]]. All of the above have also made [[pocket computer]]s in the past, especially Casio and Sharp.

Many calculators of this type are monochrome LCD, some are four-color (red or orange, green, blue, and black), or, in the case of some machines at the top of the line as of January 2022 color similar to monitors displaying 16 or 32-bit graphics. As they are used for graphing functions, the screens of these machines are [[pixel-addressable]]. Some have a touch screen, buzzers or other sound producers, internal clocks, modems or other connectivity devices including IrDA transceivers, several types of ports for peripherals like printers, and ports for memory cards of a number of types.

The wide availability and low cost of [[personal computer]]s including [[laptop computer]]s, [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer|tablets]] gradually made programmable calculators obsolete for most applications. Many mathematical software packages can be automated and customized through [[scripting languages]] and [[plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]] in a manner similar to handheld programmable calculators. However, programmable calculators remain popular in [[secondary education| secondary]] and [[tertiary education]]. Specific calculator models are often required for use in many mathematics courses. Their continued use in education is usually justified by the strictly controllable functionality available. For instance, the calculators do not typically have direct Internet access and so cannot be used for illegal assistance in exams. The remaining programmable calculator manufacturers devote much effort to encourage the continued use of these calculators in high school mathematics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kosoff |first1=Maya |title=Big Calculator: How Texas Instruments Monopolized Math Class |url=https://gen.medium.com/big-calculator-how-texas-instruments-monopolized-math-class-67ee165045dc |access-date=30 March 2022 |work=GEN |publisher=Medium |date=25 November 2019}}</ref>

==Earlier devices==

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Many programs written for calculators can be found on the [[internet]]. Users can download the programs to a [[personal computer]], and then upload them to the calculator using a specialized [[electrical cable|link cable]], infrared wireless link, or through a memory card. Sometimes these programs can also be run through emulators on the PC.

Programming these machines can be done on the machine, on the PC side and uploaded as source code, or compiled on the PC side and uploaded as with Flash and some C/C++ implementations. In addition to computer-side language packages such as tigcc, hpgcc, and others, the PC link software available for TI, HP, Casio, and Sharp calculators contain program editors; there are also SDKs, emulators, and other tools for use on the computer side, and other manufacturer and third-party tools like the TI++ editor.<ref>http{{Cite web|url=https://www.ticalc.org/archives/files/fileinfo/300/30032.html|title=TI++ Program Editor - ticalc.org|website=www.ticalc.org}}</ref> Programs, data, and so forth can also be exchanged among similar machines via the same ports on the calculator used for PC connectivity. On-board programming tools which use non-native language implementations include the On-Board C Compiler for fx series Casio calculators and the TI-83 BBC Basic port.

One possibility arising from the above is writing interpreters, compilers, and translator programs for additional languages for programming the machines; BBC Basic has already been ported to the [[TI-83 series|TI-83]] and [[TI-84 Plus series|-84]] series and other onboard languages and programming tools discussed by many include Fortran, awk, Pascal, Rexx, Perl, Common Lisp, Python, tcl, and various Unix shells.

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{{main|Continuous memory}}

Continuous memory does not lose its content when the calculator is switched off. With continuous memory the user can, for example, change batteries without losing the entered programs.<ref>Description of the [http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp25c.htm HP-15C25C] in the [http://www.hpmuseum.org Museum of HP Calculators]</ref>

=== Cassette tape ===

{{further|Compact Cassette#Data recording}}

[[Compact cassette]]s offered a simple, inexpensive alternative to magnetic cards. Usually, an interface module, such as the [[Casio FA-1]], was used to connect the calculator to an ordinary cassette recorder, and digital data were encoded as [[Frequency-shift keying|frequency-shift keyed]] audio signals.<ref>Description of the [http://www.voidware.com/calcs/fx501p.htm FX-502P501P and FA-1] on [http://www.voidware.com/calcs/museum.htm Voidware]</ref>

[[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]] and [[Hewlett-Packard]] also sold dedicated [[Microcassette|micro-]] or [[Mini-Cassette|mini-cassette]] recorders that connected directly to the calculator. These set-ups, while being more practical and reliable, were also more expensive.

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==Related tools==

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2015}}

Some programmable calculators have one or more methods of connecting to a PC for the interchange of data, programs, and software. These methods include IrDA, other wireless, serial ports -including USB or RS-232 via .125 inch or other size audio plugs, etc.

Some of the latest programmable calculators contain cellular modems as an additional channel of connectivity.

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<references />

{{Calculator navbox}}

{{Computer sizes}}