Show HN: A circular calculator and some others
arivero.github.ioI was looking for "low cognitive load" calculators, meaning that the user does not need even to look for the "=" or "*" signs when asking for a multiplication.
It was not easy to find one, so I vibe coded a set of layouts to check out. At the end it seems one needs a circular layout to swipe multi-digit numbers. Not a surprise that Gboard does not support swipe for numbers. I found it was a problem for large numbers because people accidentally raises the finger when looking for the next digits, so the most detailed versions allow "swipe continuation":
- if one starts from the numerical keys, it is a new number
- if the finger starts from outside the keyring, it is a continuation
Beyond swipe and double keyboards, I have not found any other solution to determine when a number finishes. Pauses are not informative enough.
The vibe coding experience with layouts was, well, interesting. I gave feedback via screen captures but I am not sure the model even used them.
How about using a physical numpad or calculator? It's pretty easy to type numbers and the basic operations blindly and at high speed.
I am allowing my nephew to consult the tables or the calculator when solving step by step a long multiplication. The idea was that in this way she will finally memorise the tables via practising. But when consulting the tables she becomes distracted, and in the calculator she needs to look for the times and then the equals sign and then the continuity of the phrase "6 por 8, 48" is lost, I am afraid she gets the value "48" from the screen but separated from the "index key", "6 por 8".