#studycards

[piratesexmachine420]

ICF VIII

Here's an amusing little product: the TI Keyboard. I've mentioned it on this blog a few times before, but I don't think I've ever really highlighted it until now.

This works exactly how you think it does. The cradle is nothing more than a strangely-shaped calc to calc serial link cable with one end that will only physically accept devices in a TI-83 style chassis.

You can even just use the cradle as a link cable, no problems.

Setup is pretty easy, just slide the graphing calculator into the cradle and plug the other end of the cable into the I/O port of the keyboard.

All communication is done asynchronously over an unusual variant of TI's normal D-Bus protocol*. This limits compatibility to just the contemporary (2002) graphing calcs with upgradeable OSes (i.e. flash storage): the TI-83 Plus, -83 Plus Silver Edition, -89, -92 Plus and Voyage 200. (The TI-92 Plus and Voyage 200 require using a normal calc to calc link cable, as they won't fit in the cradle. Also, apparently in 2005 a revised cradle was released that let you use calculators in a TI-84 Plus-style chassis -- these seem much rarer. One's sitting on eBay right now for ~$50. I'm not pouncing on that.) TI would've included a CD with up-to-date versions of TIOS and AMS when they sold the TI Keyboard, but I bought an out-of-box unit and only have the keyboard and cradle myself.

As another side note: I don't own a TI-73 and thus can't check this myself, but I don't see a technical reason why it wouldn't also work there. Apparently TI just didn't think it was a good fit? (I'm inclined to agree.)

Oh, and you'll also need to make sure the keyboard has fresh batteries -- three AAAs -- the link cable interface doesn't provide any power.

Once you're up and running, you can just start typing away! On the 68k-based TI-89 and -92 Plus, AMS will give you full keyboard support everywhere, including shortcuts like copy+paste. Built-in apps, optional apps, and third-party apps all work. (This is a consequence of the event-driven way 68k apps work, and the way they construct their UIs from builtins, but I digress.) IIRC even ASM programs can use it in some capacity, so long as they use getkey routine instead of trying to read the keyboard directly. Don't quote me on that though.

You'll probably just want to stick to the text editor, though. Try to do anything...calculator-ey and you'll rue the lack of dedicated keys for stuff like 'integral' or 'theta' or 'degree'. They're all still available under keyboard shortcuts (■+7, ■+H and ■+F, respectively) but those are annoying to remember and often inobvious. At least the diamond key makes more sense: it just works exactly like the normal diamond button does.

On the z80s, support is essentially the same but a little messier. It's mostly about the keyboard shortcuts, they behave differently across TIOS and NoteFolio (a note-taking and text editing app that was also included with that CD I mentioned before), and AFAICT it's pretty spotty in all other apps. StudyCard will let me use ◆+1 for F1, but ProbSim won't. Also, TIOS proper doesn't have support for lower-case letters, so shift and caps lock have no effect on letters outside of NoteFolio.

(NoteFolio was also available for the 68-based machines, but I haven't tried it out myself. I'm doubtful it was a significantly better experience than the built-in text editor, unless Microsoft Word compatibility [yes, really] was something you were desperate for.)

What you're probably really wondering is what it's like to type on. Not great! It's a membrane, and not a very good one. Keys are soft and mushy, travel distance is weird, and it's also kinda slow and kinda laggy. I'm a terrible typist, but if you weren't I imagine dropped inputs would be a problem. Additionally, the arrow keys, page up and down, and delete keys are all in a highly annoying places -- especially the arrow keys. It's not a good experience, but it does still beat the TI-92's stupid tiny chiclet keyboard. (I love the 92, but you aren't getting more than like 30 WPM on that thing.) If I had to type up a document on a calculator, I'd want to use this.

In the end though, I'm not sure exactly who this product was for. Were there people who actually wanted to type documents on their calculators? Were TI envisioning a future where classrooms of students would be taking notes on these tiny 4cm x 6.5cm LCDs? It might save paper over a physical notebook, sure, but it's soooo limited and cumbersome. What if you want to draw diagrams? What if you want to pretty print a math expression? What if you, heavens forbid, you want to draw a graph? Now you're out of luck. Especially since you would've had to spend $44.95 on this thing. That's almost eighty USD now.

I myself only bought it because I thought A) it was odd and b) it would help me turn a calculator into a goofy sort of desktop computer if I also bought a TI-Presenter or ViewScreen (one day...), which also wouldn't be a super helpful addition to my life but would probably earn some nerd cred.

Anyways, I leave you with a slightly humorous cut from the TI Keyboard Manual:

Use two hands to type ◆+H, TI? Why would I want to do that?

Not pictured: my shoulder contorted so hard that my elbow is in the middle of my chest.

*It took me ages to find documentation about what exactly was different about it. I apparently eventually tracked down a zip file full of TI-made pdfs about it, including the technical documentation I was looking for, but I have no memory of how I got it. All I know is that it's sitting in my downloads folder now. I might've ended up crawling through the Internet Archive? It was a real slog.

[heroicallynude]

Still no access to my office space. As far as the people reponsible can tell me, I have a spot, but for some reason it's not in their system, so I cant access the room with my studycard, and the studycard people can't give me the cleareance because my name isn't in the system.

I wrote to the people responsible and they told me two weeks ago that they would look into it. Then I wrote another email a week later asking if they had made any progress. No response.

Im sooooo over this. Our dinning table at home is brimming with books. Its a chore pulling myself together to do work every day because I'm at my home instead of an office. I feel so ignored and just frustrated that I could honestly cry. This seems like such an easy fix, except the people who can fix it are ignoring me for reasons unknown

[findingfirediaries]

Day 2 - 29.01.25

Surprisingly enough, since I started eating and living cleanly this week, my plan is working rather well.

So far, what I am really happy with is the following:

I follow my meal plan to the point

I go to bed early and track my sleep

I move my body once a day

I study consistently

I started reading again

So, let me rephrase these real quick.

I follow my meal plan to the point I am a healthy person in control of their food choices

I go to bed early and track my sleep I am an early sleeper and riser who prioritises their sleep

I move my body once a day I am a fit person and an athlete

I study consistently I am an above average student and I am disciplined to achieve my goals

I started reading again I am a reader and learner, who will not be distracted by mindless social media

Here is the thing, change is based on identity. Actually, one of my absolute favourite books is "atomic habits" by James Clear who describes this rather well. In his book he also explains the Four Laws of Behaviour Change and what make and break bad habits.

Make it obvious

Make it attractive

Make it easy

Make it satisfying

However these three key insights he shares are even more monumental:

Small habits make a big difference

He explains this using the example of a plane steered just a few degrees to the north at the beginning of a thousand mile journey. Over the long run, small changes like these accumulate and lead to incredible or devastating outcomes. Improving just one percent every day will make you 37,78% better every year. Success thereby becomes the product of daily habits and not one time transformations.

2. Forget about goals, focus on systems

"Goals are about the results you want to achieve, systems are about the process that lead to these results."

James Clear uses his Four Laws framework to build good systems.

I myself have begun setting up some systems but have yet to find a good one e.g. for my study routine. So let's think about one. My main problem is that while I know I will go for a run or a walk, this is usually heavily dependent on my daily feel for my body. It hasn't yet become an actual habit and is more of a "yeah it will happen but I don't know when".

This morning for example, after 6-7 hours of great sleep, I woke up sick. Not terribly so, but enough that I understood my body when it told me to a) start reading instead of running, b) go on to eat a super healthy, Vitamin C filled meal and c) go back to bed and sleep a bit longer. For tonight e.g. my sleep goal is actually to sleep at least 7h-8h to maximise my immune system.

So how does creating a good study system work then?

I will use 1.2 Use habit stacking and 1.3 Design your environment for this.

"After opening my Laptop on my desk, I will check my emails, drink a bit of water and open the notes I will study."

"After opening the notes, I will study at least 1 slide of content."

Great. Now the design of my environment is pretty neat but I just created some studycards telling me for how long I should study minimum in a range of 7-20min. This will make it more fun and I will choose one every day after waking up. I will also track my studies through my plan. I will also take a study card every time I go on social media or youtube shorts. It has to be redeemed within 30 minutes.

3. Build identity-based habits

Your current behaviors are simply a reflection of your current identity. What you do now is a mirror image of the type of person you believe that you are (either consciously or subconsciously). To change your behavior for good, you need to start believing new things about yourself. You need to build a new identity based on habits.

Changing your beliefs isn’t nearly as hard as you might think. There are two steps.

Decide the type of person you want to be.

Prove it to yourself with small wins.

Your identity emerges out of your habits. Every action is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.

Here is the person I want to become:

I am the most ambitious person I know and I do not compromise. I am an athlete, an excellent student, a disciplined person who does not procrastinate important tasks and is an action oriented person, a curious learner and avid reader and I am a healthy person who prioritises what is best for my health.

Out of this, the following habits emerge: Eating healthy and in a slight deficit, moving my body at least once per day, studying for university every day, reading instead of scrolling, going to bed early and following my systems rigorously.

[lau-smaragd]

[gadgettrish]

#MinsGame Days 22-30 and the end of #round4 for the month of #September. It was mainly #oldmail, #trash, and madness. I really would like to know why I held on to old #clothingtags or #studycards from 10 years ago but it feels great to let them go. As for the #snickerwrappers, this was part of a project coming up for #youtube but since I am #vegan I am letting them go too. #MinimalistMoonwalker #MichaelJackson #snickers #junkmail

[annikkistudies-blog]

wo creations up on Etsy. Slowly but surely getting my favourites ready for sale! Link in bio Nothing over $5 😊 Happy Studying! You got this! 💕 #studying #etsyshop #studygram #studymotivation #student #studyblr #school #notes #studynotes #education #futurenurse #university #studyspo #studyinspo #studytips #studyhard #studytime #students #stationery #college #studentlife #learning #studycards #studyinspiration #studyblog #motivation #studywithme #studyaccount #studentnurse #nursingschool

[benznote]

🍰Saccharides 🍰are one of the main nutrients for heterotrophic organisms. Saccharides can be found in each cell of the human body. Saccharides have many different functions: 🍇 source of energy, 🍓source of carbon atoms for syntheses, 🍎reserves of energy(glycogen), 🍌structural function(proteoglycans). 🍒Glucose (Glc) is universal energetic substrate. One gram of glucose when oxidized provides 17 kJ = 4 kcal 🍑Glycolysis🍑 is basic metabolic pathway localized in cytoplasm of each cell in the body. Its nature is catabolic. One glucose molecule is converted to two three-carbon molecule – pyruvate (Pyr) (pyr can be converted to lactate (Lac)). Glycolysis has many functions, for example: source of energy, acetyl-CoA (AcCoA is substrate for lipid synthesis). Glycolysis can take place in both aerobic, and anaerobic conditions. In aerobic conditions glycolysis yields two molecules of pyruvate, two molecules of ATP and two molecules of NADH. In anaerobic conditions is pyruvate converted to lactate. This reaction spends two molecules of NADH. This however is advisable because two molecules of NAD+ are regenerated. @karin_chemistry 🎂 #indexcards #mybenznote #benznote #chemistrymadeeasier #benznoteindexcards #kimia #chemistry #chemia #chemiahrou #cake #glucose #glycolysis #glc #medcine #biochemistry #degradation #of #saccharides #studycards — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2zd9i3n

[my-honor-is-to-try]

I just made enough study cards to make it rain.

I hate finals.