T/Maker - The Bare Minimum Page (videos even silent)     Back to Main Page
Have you ever imagined a spreadsheet that could work like some sort of magic blackboard in 4th grade?
Here is an introduction to one. It's the easiest solution to the easiest problem.
No one can say they don't get how it works. Quickly, "!' enters a value into the calculator.
The "#" outputs the value like an "=" but does not clear the calculator value to zero.
Math symbols  + - * /  behave as expected.
Try to specify these calculations with a regular spreadsheet in under a minute with the same level of confidence!
Also, imagine explaining that approach [ =(C6 - B6) / D6 ] in cell F6 which is then hidden by the number itself.
It doesn't make algebra seem like anything but an unneeded hassle.
Note: I would work with a bigger entity to make this more easily and widely available across a range of platforms.

Watch It a bit!  - up to 59 seconds


Charts and other specifications like formats and lines work in a similar way.
Here a pie chart is made. Help specific to the task appears again at the top of the screen.
No need to use the keyboard. What is what can be designated with the same finger painting approach.
Every user can grow to the level they feel comfortable with.

Watch It!  - 22 seconds


Complicated functions like mortgages or growth rates are built-in with easy conventions to use.
You get instructions on how to proceed once you click the function abbreviation.
With this big tool bar at the top, a world of possibilities is opened up.
That includes conditional branches that make this calculator fully programmable as well.

Watch It!  - 17 seconds


T/Maker works with Calculation Trails. The table below is done with one trail. You can have as many as you want.
There are various ways to designate values plus name-your-own memories.
Steps are done in number order. Each step is done left to right.
Syntax is mostly a series of operator and operand pairs ( /3 means divide by 3).
When an expected operand is missing, the operator refers to the value in the white cell to the right.
You can also refer to values by column name -- a,b,c as with  =d  to put a value in column d.
Meaningless cell names ( b21 as with  *c5  to multiply by the value in c5) are allowed but discouraged.
Putting intermediate values in suitably named memories leads to more clarity and fewer mistakes.

The table below figures out the bags of concrete needed to secure 30 posts given a circular hole and a square post of a specified size.
The video will show you the Debugger which can walk through trails showing all intermediate results. It's a marvel for finding mistakes or just checking.
Watch the upper right corner for the progress on each step and the value in the calculator. It starts operator by operator but I switched to step by step.
When you do this yourself, you go slowly to see if intermediate results match your expectations.
It's like watching a home movie of your spreadsheet at work. Quit when you have seen enough.

Watch It a bit!  - up to 54 seconds


What you saw?
You saw calculations being done across two dimensions without any need for algebraic notation, parentheses, or often meaningless cell names.
That makes for a more intuitive and mistake free approach that can be used by most anyone for everything from simple arithmetic to simulations.
Even the algebra savvy who are not crunching numbers professionally would find "check-as-you-go" artithmetic more relaxing than hidden formulas.
There is a quality and clarity to every solution. Some are better than others. That encourages thinking and progressing with solutions that fit your style.
T/Maker offers an entire new reality for millions to use math productively. That option remains completely off the table without it.

Thank you for your time, Peter