Could calculators plot battery status?

[StephenG1CMZ]

There's an interesting thread in the HP Prime forum about calibrating batteries.
https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-14125.html

It prompts me to wonder why modern graphing calculators do so poorly at showing battery status.
I'm not thinking so much of the accuracy, but the user interface.

AFAIK all calculators are limited to a 4-segment battery status icon or similar, showing instantaneous voltage.

Programmable calculators can possibly run a program to save the status, but it would be quite simple for a calculator to save the battery/time readings - most modern phones can show a plot of battery usage.

Why can't calculators plot and perform statistical analysis of battery status?

It could be useful in physics/statistics class to have real-world data without typing in data. Other data would be useful, but depends on optional data acquisition accessories.

One counterargument in a classroom setting might be that the battery usage is personal data.

[grsbanks]

FWIW the SwissMicros DM42 shows more than just a 4- or 5-segment icon, it can also show you the actual voltage of the battery to the nearest 0.01V in the status bar at the top of the screen.

Not only that, if you RCL "Vbat" it'll give you that voltage in the X register.

[Claudio L.]

(12-12-2019 05:07 PM)StephenG1CMZ Wrote:  There's an interesting thread in the HP Prime forum about calibrating batteries.
https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-14125.html

It prompts me to wonder why modern graphing calculators do so poorly at showing battery status.
I'm not thinking so much of the accuracy, but the user interface.

AFAIK all calculators are limited to a 4-segment battery status icon or similar, showing instantaneous voltage.

Programmable calculators can possibly run a program to save the status, but it would be quite simple for a calculator to save the battery/time readings - most modern phones can show a plot of battery usage.

Why can't calculators plot and perform statistical analysis of battery status?

It could be useful in physics/statistics class to have real-world data without typing in data. Other data would be useful, but depends on optional data acquisition accessories.

One counterargument in a classroom setting might be that the battery usage is personal data.

I think calculators *could* do it, just that nobody bothers because it isn't necessary. On a phone, you might need to stress out looking at the battery percentage drop, wondering if you'll make it until the end of day, or until you can connect your charger. On a calculator you expect long "stress-free" battery life. All you really need is a warning when the battery is low that tells you "replace me or charge me within a week or so".