TI-Nspire series
TI -Nspire CX CAS
Mini USB
Computer Algebra System
TI -Nspire is the name of a family of products, which was brought by Texas Instruments on the market in July 2007. The product family includes various hardware, software elements and enhancements. The essential design feature is the combination of computer algebra (CAS ), Dynamic Geometry ( DGS) and spreadsheet (TK ) into an integrated system, according to the didactic discussion concerning multiple representations.
The current version number is 3.6 (December 2013).
Hardware versions
- TI -Nspire and TI -Nspire CAS with Clickpad ( original version, no longer available ). By interchanging the keyboard hardware variant "TI -Nspire with Clickpad " to let emulate a TI -84 Plus.
- TI -Nspire and TI -Nspire CAS with Touchpad ( available since 2010 )
- TI -Nspire CX and TI -Nspire CX CAS with color display ( since mid-2011 available )
Software versions
- TI -Nspire and TI -Nspire CAS Student software for Windows and Mac OS X
- TI -Nspire and TI -Nspire CAS Teacher Software for Windows and Mac OS X
- TI -Nspire Document Player: allows the interactive use of TI -Nspire files without having to be in possession of a full version; is integrated using an iFrame in HTML pages.
- TI -Nspire app for iPad
- TI -Nspire CAS App for iPad
Extensions
- TI- Navigator to set up a wireless network pedagogical
- Docking station for charging the TI -Nspire handhelds, data transfer and update of the operating system
- Lab station for multi - sensors data acquisition in science teaching
Special
Applications
The main innovation in comparison to other similar products is to link the basic mathematical software Types Computer Algebra, Dynamic geometry and spreadsheet in an integrated system. On the TI -Nspire these parts are called applications. From version 1.3 TI -Nspire contains applications Calculator, Graphs & Geometry, Lists & Spreadsheet, Data & Statistics, and Notes. The 3.0 versions of the operating system adds a convenient data acquisition and evaluation environment called Dataquest.
Variable handling
The above-mentioned term "integrated system" is to be understood here so that the effect of changing a variable in an application immediately upon calculations, graphs, tables, etc. that depend on these variables in another application. For example, a cell entry in the spreadsheet Lists & Spreadsheet is saved as a variable a, a but also is a parameter of the function f (x ) = a · x ², then a change of the cell entry now also the function graph is redrawn. In other comparable products are the different applications, often only limited linked.
Keyboard
Unlike other graphics-capable calculators, the TI-Nspire handhelds family have their own keys to enter letters. In order for the input of text, in retrospect, for example, the TI-89 was significantly simplified. In the version TI-Nspire with Clickpad the letter keys were raised between the numbers and arranged function keys. This keyboard layout was abandoned. In the current models, the TI- Nspire CX series are arranged in different areas of number and letter keys.
Programmability
TI -Nspire features such as graphics-capable calculator from Texas Instruments, a programming environment ( Basic -like dialect; storage of programs in libraries). As of version 3.2, the Lua scripting language is supported.
Data acquisition
About the mini - USB interface sensors can be connected for data acquisition, on enlargement Lab station and multiple sensors at once.
Other Features
In addition, the TI -Nspire Pretty Print support, ie the two-dimensional representation of mathematical expressions.
Technical Data and Connectivity
Both computers have a large and high resolution display of 320 x 240 pixels, for comparison, the TI -84 Plus Silver Edition has a resolution of 96x64px, a TI- 89, a resolution of 160x100px. The computer has a NAND flash memory, compared to other sites, large 32 MB SDRAM and a 32MB memory also containing a copy of all active documents and a copy of the operating system. The third memory is a NOR Flash with 512 kB, the boot instructions for loading the operating system (nucleus ) contain. Unlike other graphing calculators, the TI- Nspire contains no backup battery, which is why the computer all the data stored in SDRAM "forgets" when removing a battery, so that when re- inserting the battery, the entire operating system from the NAND Flash as well as all documents in the SDRAM need to be charged, which takes about two minutes. The purpose of this procedure are the technical characteristics of NAND flash and SDRAM memory: NAND flash does not need continuous supply of electricity, however, is relatively slow; SDRAM requires a basic tension without which it will delete all the content, but it is very fast, which the liquid work with documents and operating system is very useful. Furthermore, both models are equipped with a USB interface, with which you can connect two pocket calculator or a calculator and a PC.
Software errors
Regardless of the setting ( approximation / Correct ) afforded the TI -Nspire ( the software versions prior to version 3.1) for some inputs incorrect results. Examples are listed below. The same error also partially exist in the predecessors TI -89, TI- 92 Plus and Voyage 200
Error 1 occurred only in outdated software versions of the TI -Nspire. Errors 2 and 3 occur in the TI -Nspire CX and TI- Nspire CAS in no longer with the update 3.1. Equation 2 yields after the update a "false", Equation 3 gives x = 1
In software version 3.2.3 occurs when working with parametrically defined functions, an error in the work with their derivations: if the function value of the output function to that of a dependent point zero or a different variable-free term results, is also the value of derivative with zero or the variable-free term specified. The error can be circumvented by passing the variable as a list of the calculator. This error also occurs in the current software version 3.6 on yet.