The "Mad Scientist" blog!


This is a "mad scientist" blog in that I collect speculations, inventions and wonky, weird and other ideas that come to mind. I like to think that all of them are out or even far out but on the possible side of it.

They are mostly my own creation but you are invited to submit some yourself if you own them or are your originals. On the same token please note that all content and in particular original ideas are copyright by their respective authors.

If you like it, comment; you don't like it then comment too. But keep it professional.





Sunday, January 24, 2010

PRODUCT IDEA: Desk calculator with bluetooth for computer interface

Hi,
this one if for all the admin staff, financial people  and project managers.  Do you use your software only desk calculator on your computer often ? I use it very rarely and only when unavoidable. Actually, I use the google built-in calculator more for computations. Or even command line only versions running in xterm, such as expr. Why ? First off it the calc software does not normally run on my desktop as I don't really need it often. Secondly, on laptops the number keypad is often an overlay ontop of the qwerty keyboard. It is awkward to switch inbetween.

  The beauty of a desktop calculator is the number of dedicated keys just for their purpose and with a little bit of practice they are blazingly fast to use. Additionally, most slightly more advanced calculator can do some form of programming to store formulars and conversion functions easily accessible.

  The only thing I am missing is the ability to cut-and-paste between the desk calculator and the desktop. Plus I could think of various cool things that can beef up a standard calculator when attached to a comparatively fast desktop or laptop. For example more sophisticated display in conjunction with the dedicated keypad of the desktop calculator that shows the history of calculations. And you can take the calculator away to your colleague and upload the numbers whilst discussing their implications.

  I think a simple calculator with bluetooth facility backed up by a slightly sophisticated program on the desktop that interacts with the calculator will be very popular. At the age of iphone it already makes one wonder if a subscription based desktop calculator that you can purchase addons to through an e-store might be interesting.

  It could be useless but fancy things like skin's and special softkeys. But also mathematical extensions such as resolver, optimiser and other programs. Spinning this further, how about a barcode scanner on it and start integrating it with a database as a universal low cost scanner for your shopping trips ?

  Google found Casio as the only manufacturer that built a base version.