Sharp Quiz Calculator (Elsimate EL-S50)
© 2006 Sharp Electronics Corp.
Just in time for Back-to-School '06, Sharp Electronics (www.sharpusa.com) has released two standard desktop calculators with built-in math drill features. For students, the smaller EL-S50 Quiz Calc ($12) provides practice with sets of specific math facts, such as the times tables. The more drab looking EL-T100B Brain Exerciser ($13) is for business executives, and it can silently dole out sets of random math problems, along with your score. Like Nintendo's Brain Games, the math drill was was inspired by Japanese neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima, the proponent of the rather depressing notion that as you get older, you should exercise your mind to keep it from deteriorating. On the student model, you start a drill by turning on the calculator and pressing a DRILL key. You are then asked to select how many problems you want to do (25, 50 or 100). The problems start in sequence, one at a time, and you can't advance without entering the correct answer. Once you finish your set, you get a score. There are no bells, whistles or dancing rabbits—just the quiet warm feeling you've defeated a silent drill sergeant. Both calculators are powered by a 3V lithium battery that can last seven years with normal use; hopefully enough time to master your times tables. Parents should note that elementary teachers can get picky about which calculator fits their math curriculum--teachers sometimes like to walk the entire class through a series of keystrokes at the same time, so check with your children's teacher before sending one of these to school.
$12, Smart Toy
Teaches: Math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)
CTR Rating: 82%