MyScript Calculator

MyScript Calculator is a calculator app that allows users to hand-write math operations that the app then solves. When kids first open MyScript Calculator, a five-step tutorial walks them through important functions of the app. When they're finished watching the tutorial, a grid-like screen appears, and they can simply begin using their fingers to draw equations directly on the screen. The app processes whatever is drawn into digital format, and the results are immediately calculated. Kids can edit equations by scratching over numbers and symbols to delete them. When they're finished, they can email or copy their work, or use Airdrop to share it. Customizable settings include setting the number of decimal places, using left-handed writing, and turning automatic calculation on or off. A single $.99 in-app purchase unlocks the ability to continue a long operation or use the result in a new calculation, save results into memory and use them anytime, and access all past calculations for reuse or export.

Kids can learn how to use technology to solve equations: They hand-write equations, the app processes those equations and transforms them into digital format, and then, as with a traditional calculator, the device calculates the answer. Kids can use scratch-out gestures to delete parts of the equations as needed. Unfortunately, the app doesn't have a memory feature, so multi-step equations may have to be written on paper. Nonetheless, having kids use a digital calculator is a great way to integrate technology into the classroom and engage kids a bit more in crunching numbers. Kids won't learn how to solve equations, but they will learn how to use up-to-date touchscreen technology.