Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Expensive, difficult, slightly dangerous, not particularly effective... I'm on a roll.

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Magic 8-Ball Calculator

Compute this!
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The Magic 8-Ball Calculator computes your mathematical question that is spoken to it and shows it to you when you tip it over and look at the bottom.

The device looks like a Magic 8-Ball [link], but instead of a purple fluid and a multi-sided geometric answer shape, it consists of a pressure switch, voice recognition electronics, a tilt switch and a colour LCD display.

When you press on the 8-ball, you activate its voice recognition circuitry. Simply speak the computation, and turn the 8-ball over. The LCD display shows a purple haze, and a geometric shape 'floats' into view with the answer.

Cedar Park, Mar 13 2003

Magic 8-Ball http://www.mattelga...ic8/flash_index.asp
The original 8-ball. [Cedar Park, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Here's the reverse function http://www.ticalc.o...info/166/16612.html
Turn your calculator into a Magic 8-ball [Canuck, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Mysticism on demand http://8ball.federated.com/
Not the same as this idea.. [yamahito, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

[link]






       Occasionally it should slip in a "reply hazy, try again" just for effect.
waugsqueke, Mar 13 2003
  

       I have seen a Magic 8-ball phone that opens in halves, in which the top half has the earpiece and the bottom half has the microphone and dial pad, so I thought this was going to be a variation on that. I was pleasantly surprised by the hi-tech embellishments you suggested. Croissant, with a little grape jelly (purple liquid) on the side.   

       Would there be a message like "Enunciate and ask again" if you didn't speak clearly?
Canuck, Mar 14 2003
  

       Perfect for calculating your tax return...
X2Entendre, Mar 14 2003
  

       "Oh Magic 8-ball: Does the Goldfish have enough force to..."
RayfordSteele, Mar 14 2003
  

       [Ray]: I don't remember "The Goldfish simply displaces the water, and no force is generated" as one of the classic 8-ball responses.
Cedar Park, Mar 16 2003
  

       and does the speed at which it rolls across the floor depend upon how big the answer is?
lintkeeper2, Mar 16 2003
  

       "Signs point to yes."
RayfordSteele, Mar 17 2003
  

       The LCD displays the answer and then 'floats' to the window to be seen by the user.
reap, Mar 17 2003
  

       [reensure]: "Cannot predict now."   

       But, ultimately I suppose the choice is yours, depending on whether you plan to eat the croissant or the phone. My elf much prefers pastry to electronics.
Canuck, Mar 19 2003
  

       [reap]: //The LCD displays the answer and then 'floats' to the window //
No, my idea was to have a fixed LCD window that shows a computer-generated animation of a shape coming into focus through a liquid. No liquid is harmed in the making of this calculator.
Cedar Park, Mar 20 2003
  

       [miasere] Just pick 8 or so random numbers covering a large range and call it a fuzzy logic calculator.
Elmer Phd, Jun 15 2004
  

       I would think it would be more fun to have ten floating dodecahedrons or icosohedrons in separate liquid compartments, along with some magnetic means of coaxing them to the proper orientation.
supercat, Jun 15 2004
  

       You could use a regular lcd display in actual purple liquid. Loosely tethered by its circuitry and shaped so that it always floats face up.
footzilla, Oct 08 2005
  
      
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