| Home | Site TOC | Site Search | Math | | Home | Site TOC | Site Search | Math |
I have completed a 30-day evaluation of five talking scientific calculators and have constructed a chart comparing the various features of these calculators and listing possible vendors if you choose to make a purchase. No one calculator has everything for all people. You will need to assess your needs or those of your student and make your choice based on your unique situation. In the near future I will be adding my own personal comments and those of my students. In addition, I hope to add comments from others. I encourage you to write me with your comments (whether good or bad) so that they may be shared. You make the choice of whether you wish to be named or remain anonymous. As new products become available, I will try to evaluate those as well and make additions to the chart.
At this time I would like to express my thanks to Maxi Aids, Independent Living Aids, Inc. and Orbit Research for graciously loaning me their products for this evaluation.
There are also several software programs available (often free and supplied with various hardware products). Several years ago I had three students simultaneously using the scientific calculator (with earphones) on their respective Keynotes for a Trigonometry class, and it met our limited needs. As a math teacher and Nemeth Code user, I want my students to be able to tactually "see" their work, so I was very pleased with the addition of a refreshable braille display to various pieces of hardware. (See: http://www.blazie.com or http://www.humanware.com/Text/E/E1/E1.html) My students have been using the Braille Lite, and we really like its compactness and quietness, especially for mainstream classes. Blazie has extended the capabilities of its scientific calculator to enable it to produce graphics on a braille printer. (See: "BRAILLE 'n SPEAK--UNLOCKING DOORS TO MATH FOR BLIND STUDENTS.")
The latest technological need for the blind is a talking graphing calculator with the sophistication of the TI-8? series. Graphing calculators are now required as a part of an end of course test in Algebra I in Texas, and they are often a requirement in advanced mathematics classrooms across the U.S.
| CAPTEK DIGI-VOICE Scientific Calculator #1420 |
CAPTEK DIGI-VOICE Statistical Calculator #1423 |
CAPTEK DIGI-VOICE Financial Calculator #1425 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Description | 25 keys 4" by 8" by 3" height in rear 12 round keys; 13 square keys visual display |
Not actually evaluated; described as similar to the scientific calculator with additional keys added for the statistical functions. (closely resembles model #1425) | 30 keys 4" by 8" by 3" height in rear 12 round keys, 18 square keys visual display |
| Voice response for all keys of the keyboard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Option for partly voiced | Yes (announces operations and answers only) |
Yes (announces operations and answers only) |
Yes (announces operations and answers only) |
| Help or learn function which allows the user to hear a key’s function without disturbing a calculation in progress | Yes (help function turns off after announcing one key’s function) |
Yes (help function turns off after announcing one key’s function) |
Yes (help function turns off after announcing one key’s function) |
| Voice Languages | English | English | English |
| On/Off | Must turn on by pressing ON. Turns off three minutes after the last key press or may be turned off by pressing Shift 1, ON |
Must turn on by pressing ON. Turns off three minutes after the last key press or may be turned off by pressing Shift 1, ON |
Must turn on by pressing ON. Turns off three minutes after the last key press or may be turned off by pressing Shift 1, ON |
| Ability to hear the current active number at any time. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Volume Control | 9 levels | 9 levels | 9 levels |
| Distinctly marked keys for easy identification | 5, decimal, and X | 5, decimal, and X | 5, decimal, and X |
| Most/all keys have _____ functions | Three (The shift keys, four basic math functions, zero, decimal, and equals have only one function each.) |
Information not available | Three (The shift keys, four basic math functions, and zero have only one function each.) |
| Memory Positions | Ten | Ten | Ten |
| Accessories |
|
|
|
| Basic Keys: decimal, =, 0-9 |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Basic Function Keys: +, -, times, divide |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parentheses ( ) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Backspace Key | No | No | No |
| Clear last entry Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| +/Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scientific Notation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Engineering Notation | No | No | No |
| Fix Display Decimal Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Square Root Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cube Root Key | No | No | No |
| x2 Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1/x Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| % Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Degrees Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radians Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grads Key | No | No | No |
| Sin Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cos Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tan Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sin-1 (arc sin) Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cos-1 (arc cos) Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tan-1 (arc tan) Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pi Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| e Key | No | No | No |
| Ln Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Log Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ex Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10x Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| xy Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Universal Root Key | No | No | No |
| n! Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hyperbolic Sin Key | No | No | No |
| Hyperbolic Cos Key | No | No | No |
| Hyperbolic Tan Key | No | No | No |
| Fraction entry, operation, and conversion to decimal keys | No | No | No |
| Fahrenheit/Celsius conversion keys | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Degree, minute, second/decimal degree conversion keys | No | No | No |
| Polar/Rectangular conversion keys | No | No | No |
| Special Functions for Mortgage, Real Estate and Business | No | No | Yes (Amortization, interest, dates, monthly payment, x/y change, future value, mortgage computations) |
| Special Functions for Statistics | No | Yes (Summation, mean, x/y change, standard deviation, probability, combination, permutation, y intercept, slope) |
No |
| Calculations and conversions in hexadecimal, octal, and binary number bases | No | No | No |
| Boolean logic operations, computer math keys | No | No | No |
| Time, Alarm, and Chronometer Functions | No | No | No |
| Print on/off Key | No | No | No |
| Manufacturer | CAPTEK Custom Applied Technology 104 Lincoln Highway Berwyn, PA 19312 Phone: 610-296-2348 FAX: 610-296-0488 Technical Hot Line: 1-800-888-7401 |
CAPTEK Custom Applied Technology 104 Lincoln Highway Berwyn, PA 19312 Phone: 610-296-2348 FAX: 610-296-0488 Technical Hot Line: 1-800-888-7401 |
CAPTEK Custom Applied Technology 104 Lincoln Highway Berwyn, PA 19312 Phone: 610-296-2348 FAX: 610-296-0488 Technical Hot Line: 1-800-888-7401 |
| Possible Vendors: | Maxi Aids & Appliances for Independent Living 42 Executive Blvd. P.O. Box 3209 Farmingdale, NY 11735 Phone: 800-522-6294 FAX: 516-752-0689 E-mail: sales@maxiaids.com Website: http://www.maxiaids.com $489.95 |
Maxi Aids & Appliances for Independent Living 42 Executive Blvd. P.O. Box 3209 Farmingdale, NY 11735 Phone: 800-522-6294 FAX: 516-752-0689 E-mail: sales@maxiaids.com Website: http://www.maxiaids.com $539.95 |
Maxi Aids & Appliances for Independent Living 42 Executive Blvd. P.O. Box 3209 Farmingdale, NY 11735 Phone: 800-522-6294 FAX: 516-752-0689 E-mail: sales@maxiaids.com Website: http://www.maxiaids.com $539.95 |
| Science Products Box 888 Southeastern, PA 19399 Phone: 800-888-7400 $495.00 |
Science Products Box 888 Southeastern, PA 19399 Phone: 800-888-7400 $545.00 |
Science Products Box 888 Southeastern, PA 19399 Phone: 800-888-7400 $545.00 |
|
| LS&S Group, Inc. P.O. Box 673 Northbrook, IL 60065 Phone: 800-468-4789 FAX: 847-498-1482 E-mail: LSSGRP@aol.com Website: http://www.lssgroup.com/ $495.00 |
LS&S Group, Inc. P.O. Box 673 Northbrook, IL 60065 Phone: 800-468-4789 FAX: 847-498-1482 E-mail: LSSGRP@aol.com Website: http://www.lssgroup.com/ $545.00 |
LS&S Group, Inc. P.O. Box 673 Northbrook, IL 60065 Phone: 800-468-4789 FAX: 847-498-1482 E-mail: LSSGRP@aol.com Website: http://www.lssgroup.com/ $545.00 |
|
| Carolyn's Catalog P.O. Box 14577 Bradenton, FL 34280-4577 Phone: 800-648-2266 Fax: 941-739-5503 E-mail: magnify@bhip.infi.net Website: http://www.carolynscatalog.com/ $495.00 |
Carolyn's Catalog P.O. Box 14577 Bradenton, FL 34280-4577 Phone: 800-648-2266 Fax: 941-739-5503 E-mail: magnify@bhip.infi.net Website: http://www.carolynscatalog.com/ $595.00 |
Carolyn's Catalog P.O. Box 14577 Bradenton, FL 34280-4577 Phone: 800-648-2266 Fax: 941-739-5503 E-mail: magnify@bhip.infi.net Website: http://www.carolynscatalog.com/ $595.00 |
| AUDIOCALC Scientific Calculator EC9056 | RNIB Talking Scientific Calculator DE24 (USA DE26) | ORION TI-34 Talking Scientific Calculator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Description | 28 keys 4" by 6" by 1.5" height keyboard with a completely sealed raised membrane with mechanical depression visual display |
40 keys 7.5" by 5.5" by 1.75" height sloping desktop case with a purpose-designed raised tactile keypad membrane no visual display RS232 output port |
42 keys 2.9" by 5.8" by 1.5" height keyboard with large, tactile, functionally zoned keys visual display and functionality are the same as regular TI-34 |
| Voice response for all keys of the keyboard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Option for partly voiced | No | Yes (Quiet/Verbose mode; results are spoken after pressing equals/also speaks the intermittent results) |
Yes (Quiet/Verbose/Answer mode, final results and some intermittent results are spoken after pressing equals/also speaks the contents of the screen/results are spoken as soon as an active key is pressed) (Additional feature speech modes include: Simple/Descriptive; Special Symbols Spoken/Not Spoken; Buffered/Flush.) |
| Help or learn function which allows the user to hear a key’s function without disturbing a calculation in progress | Yes (key toggles between normal and learn mode) |
Yes (key toggles between normal and learn mode) |
Yes (button toggles between normal and learn mode) |
| Voice Languages | English, French, Spanish | English | English |
| On/Off | There is no on/off switch. Automatic start and stop As soon as a key is pressed, the calculator is operational and it stops automatically at the end of the voice process. |
On/off switch located at back of unit. After 3 to 4 minutes without a keystroke, the device will beep once. 20 seconds later a double beep will occur. 10 seconds further and the device will beep 3 times and the calculator switches off 5 seconds later. |
To switch ON, press the AC/ON key To turn OFF, press the REPEAT/OFF button (located on the right-hand side) for more than 2 seconds. After a pre-selected (by you) time period without a keystroke, the device will beep 30 seconds before shutdown, and again 15 seconds later. |
| Ability to hear the current active number at any time. | Yes | Yes (also includes ability to hear the last intermittent result and all calculated decimal places irrespective of the current decimal place fix value) |
Yes (also includes ability to hear special indicators that may be displayed on the display: M, E, 2nd, HYP, BIN, OCT, HEX, STAT, DEG, RAD, GRAD, ( )) |
| Volume Control | 10 levels | Knob located at back of unit | Thumb-wheel on left side of unit. |
| Distinctly marked keys for easy identification | =, 5, and Help | 5 | A set of dots is provided with the calculator so that users can affix them wherever they find most useful. |
| Most/all keys have _____ functions | Two | Two (However, some have one; others have three.) |
Two (However, some have one, others have three.) |
| Memory Positions | Ten | One (Uses memory plus, minus, clear, replace, recall, and swap functions and fully implements order of operations: Parentheses, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) |
One (Uses memory store, recall, exchange, and sum functions and fully implements order of operations: Parentheses, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) |
| Accessories | NiCad 8.4 volt battery 9V AC to DC adapter earphone case print manual instruction cassette 1-yr warranty |
4 AA NiCd batteries charger headphones RS232 serial cable and 9-pin to 25-pin adapter case with shoulder strap print instructions instruction cassette 3.5" help disk for general calculator, and connection to a computer or printer instructions braille available on request 1-yr warranty |
Built-in re-chargeable battery which must be replaced by Orbit Research (battery should last at least through 500 charge and discharge cycles) 9V AC to DC adapter (battery charger) earphone sliding, impact resistant plastic cover print manual instruction cassette 1-yr warranty |
| Basic Keys: decimal, =, 0-9 |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Basic Function Keys: +, -, times, divide |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parentheses ( ) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Backspace Key | Yes This function allows the user to backspace during construction, and erase any digit in a constituted number, starting with the last digit entered. |
No | Yes This function allows the user to backspace during construction, and erase any digit in a constituted number, starting with the last digit entered. |
| Clear last entry Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| +/Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scientific Notation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Engineering Notation | No | No | Yes |
| Fix Display Decimal Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Square Root Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cube Root Key | No | No | Yes |
| x2 Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1/x Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| % Key | Yes | No | Yes |
| Degrees Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radians Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grads Key | No | No | Yes |
| Sin Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cos Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tan Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sin-1 (arc sin) Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cos-1 (arc cos) Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tan-1 (arc tan) Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pi Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| e Key | No | Yes | No |
| Ln Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Log Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ex Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 10x Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| xy Key | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Universal Root Key | No | No | Yes |
| n! Key | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hyperbolic Sin Key | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hyperbolic Cos Key | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hyperbolic Tan Key | No | Yes | Yes |
| Fraction entry, operation and conversion to decimal keys | No | No | Yes |
| Fahrenheit/Celsius conversion keys | No | No | No |
| Degree, minute, second/decimal degree conversion keys | No | No | Yes |
| Polar/Rectangular conversion keys | No | No | Yes |
| Special Functions for Mortgage, Real Estate and Business | No | No | No |
| Special Functions for Statistics | No | Yes (Summation, mean, standard deviation, combination, permutation, variation, statistics plus, minus, and clear keys) |
Yes (Data entry and removal, mean, population standard deviation, sample standard deviation, sum of data values, sum of squares, number of data values, and clear keys) |
| Calculations and conversions in hexadecimal, octal, and binary number bases | No | No | Yes (including NEG key and A-F keys for hexadecimal digits) |
| Boolean logic operations, computer math keys | No | No | Yes (NOT, AND, OR, XOR, XNOR keys) |
| Time, Alarm, and Chronometer Functions | Yes (Includes ability to program ten alarms, each of which can be momentary or repetitive and two modes of timekeeping) |
No | No |
| Print on/off Key | No | Yes (This key turns the RS232 serial port on or off.) |
No |
| Manufacturer | Institut de Readaptation en Deficience Physique de Quebec Site Louis-Hebert 525 Boulevard Hamel Est Aile J Quebec G1M 2S8 CANADA Phone: 418-529-6991 FAX: 418-529-1710 |
RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) P.O. Box 173 Peterborough PE2 6WS United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 345 023153 |
Orbit Research 3422 Old Capitol Trail Suite 585 Wilmington, DE 19808 Phone: 888-60-ORBIT FAX: 888-606-7248 E-mail: support@orbitresearch.com Website: http://www.orbitresearch.com |
| Possible Vendors: | Maxi Aids & Appliances for Independent Living 42 Executive Blvd. P.O. Box 3209 Farmingdale, NY 11735 Phone: 800-522-6294 FAX: 516-752-0689 E-mail: sales@maxiaids.com Website: http://www.maxiaids.com $539.95 |
Independent Living Aids, Inc. 27 East Mall Plainview, NY 11803-4404 Phone: 800-57-2118 FAX: 516-752-3135 E-mail: can-do@independentliving.com Website: http://www.independentliving.com $425.00 |
Orbit Research 3422 Old Capitol Trail Suite 585 Wilmington, DE 19808 Phone: 888-60-ORBIT FAX: 888-606-7248 E-mail: support@orbitresearch.com Website: http://www.orbitresearch.com $199.00 |
| LS&S Group, Inc. P.O. Box 673 Northbrook, IL 60065 Phone: 800-468-4789, FAX: 847-498-1482 E-mail: LSSGRP@aol.com Website: http://www.lssgroup.com/ $539.95 |
|||
| Carolyn's Catalog P.O. Box 14577 Bradenton, FL 34280-4577 Phone: 800-648-2266, Fax: 941-739-5503 E-mail: magnify@bhip.infi.net Website: http://www.carolynscatalog.com/ $575.00 |
|||
| Blazie Engineering 1095 E. Jarrettsville Rd. Forest Hill, MD 21050 Phone: 410-893-9333 FAX: 410-836-5040 e-mail: support@blazie.com Website: http://www.blazie.com $659.00 |
![[Top]](http://www.tsbvi.edu/images/top.gif){kind=small}
![[ Home ]](../images/gohome.gif){kind=small}
![[ Table of Contents ]](../images/tocbuton.gif){kind=small}
![[ Search ]](../images/tsbserch.gif){kind=small}
Agency Contact Information | Texas State Homepage | Texas State Wide Search
Please complete the comment form or send comments and suggestions to: Jim Allan (Webmaster-Jim Allan)
Last Revision: July 30, 2002 August 16, 2004