RPN(HP-31) vs AN(TI-57)

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An excerpt from Interruption as a Test of the User-Computer Interface, JPL Proc. of the 17th Ann. Conf. on Manual Control; pg.655-667, NASA-N82-13721, OCT 1981, 13 pgs.

"SUMMARY
     In any practical interaction with a computer, the user is required to formulate, phrase and enter the problem for solution through a series of steps. One very common and important characteristic of this procedure is that the operator may be interrupted at any point and required to attend to other tasks before resuming. Such interruption could have pronounced effects on the time and errors made while completing the computer task.
     In order to study the effects different logic systems might have on interrupted operation, an Algebraic calculator and a Reverse Polish Notation calculator were compared when trained users were interrupted during problem entry. The RPN calculator showed markedly superior resistance to interruption effects compared to the AN calculator although no significant differences were found when the users were not interrupted.
     Causes and possible remedies for interruption effects are speculated. It is proposed that because interruption is such a common occurrence, it be incorporated into comparative evaluation tests of different logic system and control/display system and that interruption resistance be adopted as a specific design criteria for such design.
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METHODOLOGY
     The Hewlett Packard Model 31E and the Texas Instrument Model TI57 hand calculators were chosen as examples embodying the RPN and the AN logic, respectively. Both calculators are examples of scientific calculators equipped to solve problems of considerable formulation complexity."

Sample equation, chart, table, graph, etc as well as simple program(s) documenting the comparison are included.

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