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]

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


one question - how are you going to fit all the possible answers on one of those little shapes inside?
-- miasere, 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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