The Internet Archive calls this new collection the Calculator Drawer. There are 14 calculators to choose from, including the HP 48GX, TI-82, TI-83 Plus, and even the Electronic Number Muncher, a toy calculator from the ’80s. Internet Archive not only emulates each device’s interface; This includes their physical design and buttons, giving the feeling that you have a real device in front of you.
Do some tough math questions on the good ol’ TI-83 Plus. Screenshot: Emma Roth / The Verge
The Internet Archive goes into more detail about how this works in a post on their blog. It uses the MAME artwork system to power its calculators a branch of open-source frameworks that recreate classic arcade games on various systems thus allowing the Internet Archive to incorporate actual images of calculators into the emulation. I succeeded.
As noted by the Internet Archive, MAME has two different ways it can render an emulated device, which is called ‘extra’ to enhance the part of itself that reflects the device’s screen or lights. Drawing is required. While the MAME system can create vector-based drawings of buttons and screens, the MAME Artwork system replaces these drawings with an actual image.
With these emulations, you can click buttons to input numbers and functions, just as you would physically press a button on a calculator with your finger. While you can also use your keyboard to type in numbers, it’s a bit more limited because it doesn’t appear that you can input any functions. Some devices, like the HP 48G+, also have sound, which is a nice touch. And if you need a refresher on how to use these calculators, the Internet Archive has even uploaded a collection of the original user manuals.
While I don’t have any personal history with any of these tools, it’s still nice to have a chance to try them out without physically touching them. I have great memories in high school and college with my TI-84 Plus, which allowed me to avoid learning how to factor because I programmed it to do equations for me.
