(02-01-2014 10:37 PM)Tugdual Wrote: [ -> ]I've seen some 43s rendered pictures, threads, youtube videos looks like the concept is extremely exciting.
Some clarifications. There are no renderings of the calculator. All of the pictures
and video you have seen are of real physical devices -- either working
calculators or, possibly, mechanical mockups. There are two likely reasons for
the confusion. First, the display has extremely good contrast. It looks too
good to be real even in photos. Second, the keyboard overlay is a graphic made
to look like real calculator keys. It is printed on photo paper.
For those of you that have not held a prototype calculator here is a quick
description...
The display has very black pixels on a slightly gray background. The calculator
is usable in dim light even though it does not have a backlight and draws so
little power that the calculator can be left on for months before the coin
cells run down.
Five of the six sides of the prototype calculator case are clear and the bottom
can be any color that is available in acrylic sheet although I have only made
black and clear bottoms. Other possible colors are opaque or translucent white,
silver or gold mirror and a large variety of common colors. I have even
considered fluorescent orange and green. :-)
The electronics is on a single printed circuit board with the battery holders
and display attached to it. The case is made up of four parts: two spacer
bars, a back plate and a clear Mylar sheet. All of these parts are cut with
an Epilog Laser.
The Mylar sheet is bent into shape to make up five of the six walls of the
case. (Actually, the fifth wall is the battery door). Openings are cut in the
Mylar for accessing the SD card and USB connectors.
The spacer bars are screwed to the PCB and then the bent Mylar sheet and back
plate are screwed to the spacer bars. The keyboard overlay is slid in through
the open battery door. It sits between push button keyboard switch tops and
the bent Mylar. The battery door is held closed by a screw in the back plate.
I hope this helps answer some of your questions.