Calcoolate

• Description
Calcoolate is a free Web 2.0 scientific calculator that can be downloaded on to your personal computer (Windows 95, 98, 2000, and XP), or it can be used directly on a web browser connected to the Internet. Calcoolate uses [|asynchronous] [|JavaScript] and [|XML] (AJAX) to minimize page refreshes and maintain a log of your previous calculations on the main screen. Calcoolate also has a unit converter that lets you convert between various dimensional units such as distance/length, speed, temperature, weight, volume, area, and currency. Unlike other online calculators, Calcoolate has a clean interface that does not litter your screen with unnecessary calculator buttons that you can input from your keyboard (1,2,3, +, -,*, etc). Calcoolate supports simple and scientific math functions (sin, cos, log, etc.), and instantly highlights any errors in your input. Simply enter any short or long calculation like 8*(3+12) and hit Enter on your keyboard to calculate. You can also give names to your previous calculations (i.e. 6+4=10=a), and use them in other calculations (a*3=30). There is no registration needed to use Calcoolate. Calcoolate was developed with the following philosophies: Developers of Calcoolate believe that software should not be installed on your computer. In other words, they believe that everything should be web based, especially your virtual calculator. The Calcoolate website offers the option to install their calculator on your computer to use instead of the Windows calculator. The developers do not see this as installing software, but rather as replacing installed software with web based software. The developers also believe in cool, intuitive, and easy-to-use software that does not require a manual. “Software should be easy to use, without a need for a manual. User interfaces should be cool, the cooler the better.”

• History
Other general/scientific mathematical online calculators:

Calc5 Calculator Tab eCalc gCalcD Google Calculator Instacalc Metacalc Virtual Calc98 Visual Calculator web2.0calc

• Impact on Teaching and Learning
Calcoolate provides both students and teachers with a free general purpose/scientific calculator that can be used online at virtually any Windows/Mac95, 98, 2000, and XP). Although Calcoolate does not perform graphing functions, it provides the user with an automatic generated history of previous calculations as well as names for previous calculations (i.e. 6+4=10=**a**). The additional features that Calcoolate offers give the application an advantage over the other virtual calculators. personal computer (installation only available with Windows

• Practical Applications
 - Calculate basic or scientific mathematical functions at any computer connected to the internet.

• Examples or Demonstrations
The following is a screenshot of the Calcoolate calculator: It is very easy to use Calcoolate. Simply enter any short or long calculation like 8*(3+12) and hit Enter to calculate. The calculation is computed and placed in your history table below. You can also name each calculation and refer to it in other calculations.

• References
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• External Links
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• Author
Chaz Luke, a student in the Educational Technology MEd Program at the University of Hawaii at M ā noa. For more information, contact chazluke@hawaii.edu