NumWorks certainly thinks so, as it has released a new, open-source calculator aimed at bringing maths hardware up to date. The two headline features are that it’s open-source, and that it runs Python. As well as this, there’s an ARM Cortex M4 running at 100MHz, with 1MB of flash and 256kB of RAM. Display comes via a 2.8 inch, 320×240 pixel screen. It runs the custom-built Epsilon firmware, which you can get a feel for by using the online emulator at hsmag.cc/dJzFCj.
The open-source ethos runs all the way through the product. Everything, including the physical design and the software, are open to be fiddled with and, if you so desire, recreated. While open-source stuff always gives us the warm and fuzzies, it’s particularly nice here, as there’s stuff that’s actually useful. With the STL files for the hardware available (hsmag.cc/nICDvg), you can recreate a part if it breaks, or customise the look or feel of something. This gives students the ability to learn more than just maths.
Open all the sources
The open-source software means that new features can be added and bugs fixed by the community. Hopefully, this will mean that the software can keep developing as and when new requirements appear. You can, of course, completely rewrite the firmware if you want to turn this into a different type of hand-held computing device.
The inclusion of Python will be particularly useful for schools already teaching this language. It means that there’s now a single coding language you can focus on that works with desktops, Raspberry Pis, microcontrollers, and calculators. That’s a huge range of devices for a single language (even if we were fond of the BASIC version on calculators of our youth).
There’s even an online repository of scripts at hsmag.cc/STZnlm (you’ll need to create a free account to sign up). Here, you’ll find a range of scripts (including a range of games) that you can download to your NumWorks calculator. The calculator is certified by some American education authorities for exams, but if you’re using this for school, check that it’s allowed by your examining body.
While the particular requirements of schools and exams mean that there’s still a place for graphing calculators in classrooms, is there a place for them outside of education?
Getting dirty
Workshops vary massively – do you want to be getting your laptop or phone out every time you need to check some maths? For many people, that’s fine, but if you’re covered in grease or dust, that may not seem that attractive an option. We can definitely see the advantages of having any particular equations you need in your line of work preprogrammed into a device with physical buttons.
Another advantage of a pure calculator is that it doesn’t distract you. It’s just a calculator, so there are no notifications about who’s tweeted, or anything else about what’s happening in the world.
These things can’t have everything, but we can’t help but think that this calculator would be improved with some way of capturing data. A simple analogue-in connection, which could capture values from simple experiments to be processed in the existing framework, would open up a whole new world of possibilities. Alternatively, the ability to easily upload datasets from your computer would be useful. Perhaps, though, that reflects our usage patterns, not those of people using this calculator.
NumWorks has created a great calculator: it feels solid, is easy to use, and is open-source. While we can’t comment on its suitability for a particular curriculum, it feels like a great option for learners. For people who have left formal education behind, it’s a hackable hand-held with a fairly powerful microcontroller. This opens up a range of options, whether you’re looking to code it through the official interface and Python, or replace the firmware entirely and build your own platform on this hardware.
Numworks $99 numworks.com
Verdict
Easy to use, this is a solid option for those who are learning. It’s open-source, uses Python, and gives interesting coding options.
