calc12 Sci

What is calc12 Sci?

Mostly, it’s a practical way to carry your everyday working calculator. As a practicing Electrical Engineer, I had to give up my trusty HP41 when the rechargable batteries died for good. I tried calculators for other handhelds, and while they might suffice in a pinch they were far from suitable as an everyday tool for a litany of reasons... poking sticks, low resolution screens, unfamiliar layout. The advent of the high resolution touchscreens on the iPhone® and iPod touch® afforded the opportunity to develop a capable scientific calculator that I was already comfortable with, in a package that I already carried. calc12 Sci (I pronounce it “sky”) is the result, and while it’s a bit different from those that came before, it is designed to be familiar in look and feel to those “skilled in the art”.


For more information about HP’s other fine calculation instruments, visit the The Museum of HP Calculators. it’s fun!

Are there instructions?

In a word, yes. Qualification: but not here. Rather than duplicate the superb efforts of others, I refer you to general instructions from the Museum of HP calculators’ website. They are quite good, and I’m sure that Google will direct you to more.


Learning Reverse Polish Notation (RPN)

Beyond the past.

calc12 Sci takes advantage of the iPhone/iPod touch’s high resolution screen to add more information about the calculator’s state than was possible in the ‘80s. Mostly, the improvement is with the addition of continuous display of the stack registers (X, Y, Z, T, and LastZ from left to right) and the last operation performed. I had always been a little worried about the stack contents in the old days, seeing them reduces my stress level. Yes, you can listen to music while using the calculator, and incoming phone calls, SMS and calendar alerts are presented to you in the normal fashion and are dealt with normally. You can start and stop “sky” anytime because it saves the stack and all data registers so the next time you start the calculator, it’s as if you never left it.

Who/what is this intended for?

Actually, it was written for me, so I hope it will find a place with other Engineers and Scientists who grew up with RPN calculators and miss having them around. For students, being able to run on the iPhone means they won’t ever forget their calculator (who forgets their cell phone?) and since it also runs on the iPod touch those that are fortunate enough to have one can add a capable calculator at a reasonable price.

What’s with the blank keys?


Expansion.


Someday I plan to do something with the top row of keys but I’m not sure what as yet. I’m thinking that solution packs for specialists would be handy, as would unit conversions and constants, possibly something that will use the internet (I’m not a fan of depending on the internet for core functionality, so internet connectivity may not go far). Maybe a key that switches directly to the stocks application so you can check your portfolio. Nah. Too depressing right now.

Where can I buy?

On the App Store, of course! (click the App Store badge) Oh... calc12 Sci will NOT work on a computer, it only works on the iPhone or iPod touch, you can get one of those from the kind folks at Apple, Inc.


If you wish to comment about this little program, by all means do so at Apple’s App Store! I love stars.

RPN Calculator

for Science

and Engineering