future scientific calculator assignment graphical user interface
TRANSCRIPT
Future Scientific Calculator Assignment
Graphical User Interface
Wina Yanti & Zikroh Nafiah
Creative Digital Design
Background
A scientific calculator is a type of calculator that is designed to calculate problems in science,
engineering, and mathematics. It has the ability to calculate complex mathematic functions and it
is widely used for higher educations and professionals. Nowadays, scientific calculators have
become more complex and advanced. In terms of forms, it comes in various platforms including
physical, mobile-based, web-based, and computer programs. In terms of functions and features, it
comes with the ability to create graph, read digital hand-writing, and even scan photographs.
Scientific calculator has really transformed the way its users perform complex calculations.
With all advancement and its outstanding abilities, however, scientific calculator still lacks one
critical quality: the ability to understand users. Many people find it complicated in using scientific
calculators for solving complex mathematics functions. It is because solving complex calculations
requires the users to understand the “language” of the scientific calculator. The user can only learn
the language through the manuals, and it is not something pleasing to read.
Based on the problem above, we are here to propose a conceptual design of future scientific
calculator. With the development of User Interface, as well as Graphical User Interface, we think
that this is the time for scientific calculator to provide better user interface, and create a more
comfortable experience for its users. We would like to create a scientific calculator that has better
understanding of what the users want and need. In this report, we will explain our steps and
findings in creating this scientific calculator, as well as the design, in the form of low fidelity
prototype.
User Experiences and Requirements
The first thing that we did in creating our future scientific calculator is observing user experiences
and identifying user requirements. In order to find out those information, we conducted a small
survey using online questionnaire. We asked 10 selected potential users a series of questions about
their experiences in using scientific calculators, as well as what they actually want from scientific
calculator. These potential users are including high school students, university students from
science faculty, and university students from business faculty.
Here are the questions of User Experience survey, as well as the summary of its answers.
Are you using Scientific Calculator?
Yes No
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2,5
3
3,5
4
4,5
1 Year More Than 3Years
More Than 4Years
5 Years 6 Years 7 Years 15 Tahun
How long have you been using Scientific Calculator?
Number of people
When there is exam orassignment
Everyday Around 4-5 Days AWeek
Around 2-3 Days AWeek
Around Once A Week
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2,5
3
3,5
How often do you use Scientific Calculator?
Number of people
When you are choosing Scientific Calculator, what are the things that come to your consideration?
Price Functions and Calculation Complexity
Ability to Draw Graph Attractive Appearance
Accessible Everywhere Strong Case
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Physical
Mobile Application
Computer Software
Online Web
What form of Scientific Calculator have you been using?
Number of people
After asking the participants about their experiences in using Scientific Calculator, next, we were
asking questions related to the things that our participants want from their Scientific Calculator. In
this part of the survey, we are using open-ended questions, therefore the participants are free to
write what they have in mind.
Here are the questions of User Requirements survey, as well as the summary of its answers.
Question: In terms of features and functions, what are the things that need to be fixed/improved
from your current Scientific Calculator?
Summary of Answers:
• Lack of complex calculations
• No graphs
• Durability
• Battery durability
• Adding tutorials for usage
• Complicated to change calculation mode
• Text on the buttons are easy to fade
• Some functions of the calculator are hard to access
Question: In terms of appearance and convenience, what are the things that need to be
fixed/improved from your current Scientific Calculator?
Summary of Answers:
• Casing design and strength
• More color choices
• Make it smaller and thinner
• Bigger screen
• Some of the buttons are fragile and the texts are easy to fade
• Make the shape to be more comfortable and futuristic
• Make it more attractive, detail, and eye-catching
Question: Have you ever seen/find a Scientific Calculator that is better than the one you are using
now? What makes that Scientific Calculator better?
Summary of Answers:
Six out of ten participants answer Yes. The reasons are:
• Having ability to form graph from equations
• Having bigger screen
• Having more complex functions and calculations
• Having a display that is easier to read
• Having ability to save data
Question: If you are given a chance to create a Scientific Calculator for yourself, even if it seems
impossible, what kind of features and functions that you want to put in your calculator?
Summary of Answers:
• Colored screen on physical calculator
• Graph calculator with low price
• Touchscreen calculator (not a mobile application) which doesn’t use any button
• Calculator which can display calculation result like a projector and can connect to Wi-Fi
• Games
• Clearer log function
• Accounting functions, apart from the scientific calculations
• Photomath
• Water resistant
Question: How is the appearance of your Scientific Calculator going to be?
Summary of Answers:
• Small, thin, and light
• Can be put in shirt’s pocket
• Better text font flat button
• Flexible
• Comfortable to be held, easy to use,
• Having simple input display but can execute complex calculation
• Futuristic look
• Durable
• Having dark green color
Conclusion on User Experiences and Requirements
After reviewing the result on User Experiences and Requirements survey, we conclude some
important requirements that we are going to put into our future scientific calculator. In terms of
functions and features, our calculator should have the ability to display graph from equations,
calculate complex functions, take pictures then translate the image into digital texts, and support
the users with more accessible functions as well as tutorials. Meanwhile, in terms of appearance
and convenience, our calculator should have bigger screen, colored display, touchscreen feature,
more durable battery, flexible interface, as well as being light, small, and thin.
Based on those requirements, we finally decided to create a mobile application of Scientific
Calculator. It is a scientific calculator application that can be installed in smartphone. It has
attractive design and better user interface. We call our scientific calculator as Cal-E.
Sources of Inspiration
In creating the conceptual design of the scientific calculator, we were also trying to find some
comparison from existing scientific calculator. Scientific calculators that became our sources of
inspiration are Photomath and Microsoft Mathematics. Photomath is a mobile application that can
scan handwritten math problems using camera, and translate the images into digital form, then
immediately solve it. The application also provides the steps of solving the problems which are
very useful for users. Microsoft Mathematics, on the other hand, is a computer software that can
translate equation into graphic form. It also supports digital hand-writing, in which the software
can read hand-written math problem that are written using pen tablet.
Photomath
Microsoft Mathematics
Conceptual Design
Here is the conceptual design of our future scientific calculator, Cal-E. It has minimalist and
futuristic design. It supports simple and complex calculations, graph drawing, as well as scanning
photos into digital math problems.
My Cal-E (Choose and change your calculator mode, by simple tap on the icon.)
A circle-widget which provide user calculator mode they need. Although it uses icon, but the user
does not have to remember since it accompanied by name to let them know what kind of calculator
is. Also, to choose and change what calculator they need, simply tap the icon.
Editable Expression (Make mistake, edit it right away)
Also, if you have a mistake as you input the number just highlighted and input the new number
because it is editable.
Cancel/Correct Button (Done your first calculation, tap and do the new one)
Instead having two buttons for cancel and correct the expression by doing different act, one button
provides two functions. Press once to delete expression one by one and press longer to clear whole
expression.
Cal-E Mode (Customize your calculator mode, what mode available on the my cal-e.)
The user can customize and re-arrange what kind of calculator that they want by simply tap two
times in the middle, so it maximize the experience as the one who appear in my cal-e is the most
used mode. Also, as we tap the calculator name, there will be explanation about what calculator is
it.
Photo Cal (Solve your mathematical problem expressions magically by using the camera of your
mobile device in real time)
This feature applies writing or hand writing recognition, which allow user to solve their
mathematical problem, simply by point your camera. Then it will scan the problem and it will give
an answer and step-by step process. Since it is real time there will be no photograph stored, but if
user want to have their previous calculation, it will be stored in the history.
Tutorial (First-time user? Find what you need to know here)
For the first-time user or when you forgot how to use feature available, the tutorial will able to
help you know; command to do, feature available, how and then through a simple but
comprehension explanation.
Setting (Choose and set your preference language and brightness of your Cal-E)
Setting will allow the user to choose their language used in the application, now it only has two
languages (English and Bahasa Indonesia). Then brightness makes the user able to adjust the
brightness level of the display system.
Key (change calculator mode, continue your calculation)
If the user in the middle of calculation process, but they need different calculator mode, the key
button will help to solve this. Because the key button allow user to change their calculator mode
without come back to the main page, while the calculation will remain unchanged only the
calculator keyboard will change.
Gr - Graph Button (Wonder what kind of graph from this equation, let me help you)
As the user use equation calculator mode, and wonder what kind of graph from this equation, the
user just has to click this button and it will direct them into a pop-up page of the graph
St – Step Button (Wonder how it works, find the process step by step)
Together with graph button on the right upper corner, by tapping this button it will show step by
step process of calculation being input.
Three Buttons (simple shortcut for your need)
In any page if the user swipe to right the three buttons (setting, history, and home), by tap them
you will be directly directed to that page. For example, if user tap home button, from any state
they are in the calculator, it will directly go to home (main page).
History (Find your previous calculation and use it for what you need)
Together with home and setting, as the user swipe to the right, history will appear. It is a feature
that will help user track their calculations process. Moreover, if they want to edit or do same
calculation, simply just go to the history choose your previous calculation and edit it or by press it
longer user will able to copy the calculations.