TI-Nspire CX Handheld | By Texas Instruments

There was a time when the coolest thing you could do with your calculator was spell “hE110” out of upside-down numbers on the LCD display.  Apparently kids aren’t so easily impressed anymore. Texas Instruments’ new line of “Nspired Learning” calculators, led by the flagship T1-Nspire CX, represent more than just a better way to vaguely amuse yourself during class.  They’re a whole new way to teach and learn math and science.

Far from the monochrome 8-digit displays of old, the T1-Nspire comes equipped with a 16-bit 320 by 240 display that can show images and animations as well as create complex 3D graphs of whatever numbers you’re crunching.  But the real heart of the system is a digital content authoring and publishing tool that allows teachers to customize interactive lessons. The handheld unit will also connect wirelessly to an in-classroom computer and allow the teacher to monitor the progress of students and customize their lessons based on individual needs.

It’s approved for use in most college entrance exams and state standardized tests, so you can use it as a vanilla calculator too.  And it probably spells words when you turn it upside down, but using it that way seems kind of a waste.