pine 140 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 The TI nspire calculator is an advanced calculator which is expected to be the successor of TI-89. There are news on the web that a recent OS update (version 4.2) to the TI Nspire calculator added serial interface support to its programming environment. Before this OS release, the USB port is intended only for PC data connectivity (PC software for this calc is free with every purchase of the calc, and runs exactly the same as the real calculator on PC) and charging of calculator battery. Although this feature is not highlighted in the release notes, some calculator enthusiasts reported success (and here) of serial communication with a MSP432 LP connecting to this calculator with USB interface. This will definitely expand the possibility of the LP as learning tool in school settings. Imagine LP acts as sensor hub and the Nspire a platform for exploring the mathematical concepts behind the data captured. On the other hand, the Nspire itself equipped with color screen and a full (although not qwerty) alphanumeric keyboard can be a very nice HMI to control the LP via the serial interface. Together with Energia, it will be easier to introduce programming and basic electronics to a broader range of students, as this new serial communication capability make it possible to bring something new to what they are generally used to - a calculator. bluehash 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greeeg 460 Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 It's cool that it is compatible with an off the shelf development kit, looks like you still need a weird cable/adapter, mini A (for the OTG) then micro B on the other end. Back in the day I remember alot of people using the 2.5mm serial jack within the older 83/84. My school didn't allow us to use any of the Nspire series because they had features we were supposed to learn how to do manually. I wonder if TI will create a 'lab' that school could use for introducing the students to programming. The TI nspire calculator is an advanced calculator which is expected to be the successor of TI-89. I actually own both an Nspire and the 89 now. I actually prefer the 89 over the nspire 100% of the time. I personally find the colour screen and "os like" UI gets in the way for me. pine 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pine 140 Posted February 27, 2016 Author Share Posted February 27, 2016 I actually own both an Nspire and the 89 now. I actually prefer the 89 over the nspire 100% of the time. I personally find the colour screen and "os like" UI gets in the way for me. I'm with you. Struggled between these two when my old Casio retired, tried the emulators for both, the 89 is much more "calculator-like". The Nspire, on the other hand, is like a hand-held Mathematica or Maple, yet I found myself made less input mistake with it, perhaps due to the equation display. But yes, the OS features like UI and file system, sometimes bog down the machine. If I knew back then the TI Sensor Tag works with the iPad version of the Nspire, the choice will be clear - get an iPad and a 89 instead Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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