beep

[webmasterpdx]

The original design has the text buzz next to unused pads, meaning it was designed in but depopulated....was probably just a piezo device. Of note is that the CPU also has an AC97 codec built in that is capable of 16-bit stereo PCM and a mono microphone interface....so they could have, if they wanted, implemented a sophisticated audio subsystem.
But again, we see useful features removed for exam mode. Someone above suggested we have 2 versions of the calculator...one for kids doing exams, and the other for engineers, mathematicians, scientists, hobbyists, etc..
As for usefulness, here are a few:
1. An indicator, for things like when your program is done running (some algorithms take a long time to run).
2. Another dimension for scientific visualization.
3. Feedback for key presses in certain applications.
4. Feedback in animation, like games, when the ball hits a bat, etc..
5. Music applications.
6. If more elaborate sound capability were added, sound synthesis research.
7. Speech recognition and generation for use in apps and research in algorithms in that area.
I'm sure I could come up with many more if I wanted to put the time in.

BTW, there is a way to get sound right now....though I haven't played around with it yet. Most calculators will create a signal that can be picked up by a radio tuned to the right frequencies, and running different code could produce different sounds and frequencies....so you pair the calculator up with a radio and you get sound.
I've done this with an old casio calculator in the past, but I haven't tried this for the Prime yet....

Just musing....I don't expect any change to occur :-)
-D