Education Technology

Here’s a look at the key events in the invention and evolution of handheld electronic calculators, software and related products from TI.

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1967

TI invents the world’s first handheld electronic calculator

While small enough to fit into the palm of a hand, the Cal-Tech is powerful enough to perform basic math functions.

1972

TI’s first handheld calculator hits the retail market

The revolutionary technology of the single-chip TI-2500 Datamath™ calculator makes everyday math accessible. Capable of performing addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, it features a red, eight-digit LED display.

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1974

TI introduces its first scientific calculator

The TI SR-50 adds trigonometric and hyperbolic functions to the technology available on the TI-2500 Datamath™ calculator, as well as logarithms and their inverses.

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1981

TI’s first solar-powered handheld calculator debuts

TI harnesses the energy of the sun with the TI-1766, bringing to market its first solar-powered handheld calculator.

1987

TI releases its first calculator designed with teacher assistance

The TI-12 Math Explorer — the first TI calculator designed in partnership with teachers to meet the needs of elementary and middle-school classrooms — is introduced.

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1990

TI unveils its first graphing calculator

Designed for use in algebra and precalculus courses, the TI-81 graphing calculator becomes the industry leader in handheld graphing technology.

1994

TI introduces the CBL™ data collection device

The Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL™) System — a portable and versatile data-collection device for math and science — opens the door for students to collect and analyze real data in the classroom.

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1995

TI launches its first calculator with a built-in Computer Algebra System (CAS)

The revolutionary TI-92 tool with a built-in Computer Algebra System (CAS) combines the power of a computer lab and the independence of a calculator with many capabilities that had been available only in computers and mathematics software.

1996

TI introduces a graphing calculator that supports statistics and finance

TI adds advanced functionality for statistics and finance to the TI-82 graphing calculator by introducing the TI-83 graphing calculator, which becomes a popular programming platform for students.

1998

TI integrates Flash™ ROM technology into its calculators

With the incorporation of state-of-the-art Flash™ ROM memory into the TI-73 Explorer™ and TI-89 Titanium graphing calculators, students can upgrade the software on their calculators and customize them by adding apps.

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1999

TI releases the TI-83 Plus graphing calculator

Updated with Flash™ ROM technology, new applications and six times the memory of the popular TI-83, the easy-to-use TI-83 Plus graphing calculator lets students graph and compare functions, as well as perform data plotting and analysis using TI’s handheld CBL™ device.

2001

TI enters the connected classroom market

The TI-Navigator™ Classroom Learning System — a classroom network connecting students’ calculators — lets teachers see in real time where students are struggling, allowing them to adjust instruction on the spot.

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2004

TI introduces the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator

In a progression from the TI-83 Plus, the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator offers improved connectivity by adding a USB port, allowing for direct data transfer between computers and calculators. Other enhancements include a high contrast LCD display, faster processor, more memory, an internal clock and available kickstand.

2007

TI reveals the TI-Nspire™ graphing calculator

With a major leap forward in calculator design, the TI-Nspire™ handheld introduces an interface more similar to the operation of a personal computer, allowing students to display multiple representations on a single screen, explore cause-and-effect scenarios and save work.

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2011

TI unveils its first full-color graphing calculators with 3D and connected classroom capabilities

With the TI-Nspire™ CX and TI-Nspire™ CX CAS handhelds, students can import images and graph in 3D – allowing them to interact with math and visualize data in multiple ways. Using the TI-Nspire™ CX Navigator™ System, teachers can connect to — and wirelessly monitor — students’ work, assess their understanding in real time, and send, collect, grade and save students’ work.

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2013

TI introduces apps for iOS devices

Building on the innovation of the TI-Nspire™ graphing calculator — TI’s most powerful handheld technology — the TI-Nspire™ App for iPad® and TI-Nspire™ CAS App for iPad® are launched, making teaching and learning math more engaging, meaningful and fun.

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2013

TI introduces the world’s first talking graphing calculator

With functionality identical to the TI-84 Plus, the Orion TI-84 Plus talking graphic Calculator levels the playing field for students who are blind or visually impaired, giving them access to the same graphing technology their classmates use.

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2015

TI introduces the TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculator

Thirty percent thinner and lighter than the TI-84 Plus, with six times the memory and a powerful rechargeable battery, the slim, sleek TI-84 Plus CE is made available in a variety of bold colors.

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2016

TI unveils a new STEM solution — the TI-Innovator™ Hub with TI LaunchPad™ Board

A palm-sized box with a built-in microcontroller, the TI-Innovator™ Hub plugs into a TI-84 Plus CE or TI-Nspire™ CX graphing calculator and places the power of coding and engineering design into the hands of students. Created using the TI LaunchPad™ Board, the TI-Innovator™ Hub employs the same technology used by leading engineers around the world to design cutting-edge products, from smartwatches to 3D printers.

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2017

TI rolls out the TI-Innovator™ Rover robotic vehicle

Rover makes learning a moving experience by creating fun, new ways to explore math and science. As students write and refine programs to control the vehicle, they engage in lively, collaborative problem-solving, and take the first steps toward more advanced robotics and STEM explorations. Students program Rover with TI-84 Plus CE or TI-Nspire™ CX graphing calculators, and a TI-Innovator™ Hub translates the code to control the vehicle.

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2019

TI introduces TI-Nspire™ CX II and TI-Nspire™ CX II CAS graphing calculators

With the familiar functionality of the TI-Nspire™ CX family of graphing calculators, these updated handhelds offer faster performance, fresh new features and easier-to-read graphics, creating more opportunities for hands-on engagement. In addition, the TI-Nspire™ CX II CAS graphing calculator can reduce syntax errors, as well as easily disable algebraic functionality.

Python programming was added in 2020

2021

TI presents the TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculator

The newest addition to the TI-84 Plus CE graphing family, the TI-84 Plus CE Python graphing calculator builds on the familiarity of the TI-84 Plus CE and enhances it with the power of Python programming. This fast-growing, easy-to-learn coding language is used in a variety of industries, allowing students to prepare for 21st-century careers.

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