Talk:Calculator spelling

Not censored

I removed the "no offensive" words warning, since wikipedia is not censored for the protection of minors. --Interiot 07:50, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

Regular expression

For permanance in case paperlined.org goes away, the regular expression used is "^[izehsglbo]*\([izehsglb]\|[izehsglb]o\)$". I don't want to include it in the article body, because Wikipedia is not an instruction manual, but it's worth noting somewhere. --Interiot 08:00, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

Casio

The phrase 'Casio is one of the large calculator manufacturers' is changed to 'Casio is one of the large manufacturer of calculators', since the previous version could be misunderstood that 'Casio is one of the manufacturers of large calculators', while in reality it manufactures calculators of different sizes.

Why mention Casio at all? Looks like gratuitous product placement to me. -- 08:12, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Fixed. --Wernher 19:23, 9 November 2005 (UTC)

I've also added Stabilo. Both Casio and Stabilo are NOT product placements, they are just examples, and Stabilo also refers to a disambiguation page that links both to company and musical group. Maybe someone finds better examples and removes these. Also perhaps someone makes a page about DEADBEEF as a purely hexadecimal (no decimal numbers) example.

I've found a better example myself, and it's the word 'stable'.

Finally i've found that both Stabilo and stable contain letter L, which is not contained in the hexadecimal character set, so I replaced it with the word 'fast' (there should be at least one example of number 7 used as capital T, maybe someone finds a better example of such usage). I've also sorted the examples alphabetically, like in the four function calculator spelling section.

Proposed merges

Given that there are tags for this article to be merged with Calculator words and merged into Beghilos, I thought it might be an idea to comment on that. As to the first, I personally think Calculator spelling is a better title, since it allows for more than just single words, and I also think this article has already covered most of the subject so that the only thing really useful from Calculator words is the list (which would probably look better in a table of some sort).

As for the second, it looks like that article came from the German Wikipedia, and while it is a good article, I can find very little Google evidence of the actual word being used just about anywhere, and so I would suggest that some of the information be merged into here instead. Confusing Manifestation 13:10, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

I'd accept any change in the merge debate between Calculator spelling and Beghilos. I had honestly never heard the word beghilos until I bumped into the Wiki article, so most people would not be looking for that word, I expect; a redirect would make that a moot point. Again, doesn't matter.

For the other merge proposal, I would suggest cutting the redundant data from the top of the Calculator words article. Make Calculator spelling (or beghilos) the main page of the subject. Finally, rename Calculator words into something like List of calculator words. This would have the added benefit of alphabetisation, as the current list has no obvious order. Flat-out merging the two articles would make a very long article, most of it lacking much substance. Spamguy 18:25, 27 February 2006 (UTC)

Hi Spamguy,

The reason why you didn't find a lot information about this word is explained by the fact that this expression is only used by small marginal groups. Myself as autor only found informations in one single and rather old book that must be barely unknown as the publisher does not seem to exist anymore (I didn't find any adresses or webpages) and surely wasn't that popular when it has been sold. However, I just want to show with this that Google is not omniscient and, in my humble opinion, cannot always be used as an information verification tool as a (surely very small) part of knowledge is not digitalized. This is or better was the case with Beghilos.

In the end, it doesn't matter if there is a redirect from Calculator Spelling to Beghilos or vice versa, you're right. But I'd still prefer to have it the first way for a simple reason. "Beghilos" is an expression that is unique and that bases on the topic it entitles. "Calculator Spelling" is only a combination of two english words that has been used, because there was no name known at the time when article was created. It could also easily be called "Calculator Alphabet" or "Calculator Letters" or similar and people may search for these and find anything. And in addition this hardly can be translated into other languages. For example (I noticed you understand german) in german: "Taschenrechnerschreibweise" or even "Taschenrechnerrechtschreibung". I doubt that anyone would type in such a long word even if he searched exactly for that topic. The other way, if someone not speaking english native searches on the english wikipedia because he didn't get any results in the one with his own language, he may have trouble to find this article because he maybe used other keywords for searching. he last point only as a marginal note, of course.

As for the merging steps you proposed, I fully agree.--Saxbryn 09:18, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

You raise some good points, but the general procedure for moving is to pick the article title that most people would be looking for, and make the others link to that. I'd say Calculator spelling and Calculator words are probably roughly equal, so I choose the spelling one based on the quality of the article itself. By your admission beghilos is an obscure term for the practice. That said, you've obviously put some good work into that article and I definitely think that much of that information deserves to be in the main one, wherever it is. Confusing Manifestation 12:51, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

Kudos to Spamguy - the new page looks good, it's a well-made composition of the three pages, and once the list is cleaned up the merge will be complete. Confusing Manifestation 05:23, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

Can Anyone Find References to a Calculator Riddle Book?

I know when I was a kid (maybe about 1975) a teacher loaned me a book of riddles that involved solving problems on a calculator to eventually generate a word to view upside-down. I have no idea of the title, but if anyone can think of it, it would be useful to add as a reference. Probably long out of print. Paul R. Potts 16:07, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

You know, I remember something similar ... possibly in a school library somewhere ... buggered if I know anything more about it, but I agree it would be a good reference. Confusing Manifestation 01:37, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

I think I have that book! I will let you know, when I find it. DaveDodgy (talk) 11:10, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

well 16 years later that book is readily found on amazon.. Calculator Riddles by David Adler. Probably worth adding to the article if someone has the time. Bet that book doesn't have "boobies" ( the birds ya know ) in it.. Gjxj (talk) 00:06, 3 February 2023 (UTC)

Scientific Calculators

Should no reference be made to spelling on scientific calculators (those with brackets and sin and cos &c.). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Elkrobber (talk • contribs) 22:49, 11 January 2007 (UTC).

"Shell Oil"

Should be a reference to the classical SHELL OIL joke that was very popular in the 1970's / early 1980's in the U.S. It goes something like "If 142 Israelis and 154 Arabs are fighting over 69 acres of land for 5 days, who won?" To get the answer, you multiply 14215469 by 5, so that 71077345 appears, turn the calculator upside down, and on 7-segment displays it appears as "ShEll OIl".

Here's an apparent reference which shows up in Google (I haven't seen the article): "The Electronic Pocket Calculator: Joke 1:" by Lois A. Monteiro Western Folklore, Vol. 35, No. 1 (Jan., 1976), p. 75 -- AnonMoos 10:44, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

If anyone wants that joke in the article, I can verify that the aforementioned article is about the Shell Oil joke, and the statement above accurately reflects the joke as described by the article. Personally, I don't think that the joke belongs, but I'll not remove it if someone adds it. --Sopoforic 04:23, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Actually, it appears as "ShELL OIL". -- 12.116.162.162 (talk) 16:09, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Fix image please

The image shown does not portray all of the characters mentioned in the previous paragraph. Cbdorsett 08:05, 6 February 2007 (UTC)

This article in the Wikipedia store

I've made some merchandise for the Wikipedia store based on this article: [www.cafepress.com/wikipedia/2585590 Calculator writing] section. Let me know what you think on the meta page. Tlogmer ( talk / contributions ) 01:04, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

I just got back from the wikipedia store, I would like a t-shirt. But I could not believe they have 20+ items featuring "hELL0" printed on them. Who the fuck would want such a t-shirt or sweater? What does it have to do with wikipedia? (They say because it is from a notable wikipedia article, give me a break!). Having 20+ products with "hELL0" printed on them, offered as a wikipdeia product, wins the Absurdity of the Year Award for 2008. Congratulations! --Jon in California, 4 Jan 2008. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.127.73.9 (talk) 04:14, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

Thats just stupid looking

I mean really L looks like 7 NO T DOES more 80% of those don't look anything like the numbers under them at all.Prolar Pie=Anti-Noob&and Newb-Helper 20:19, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

Seven-seg Nixie tubes?

I (temporarily?) removed the passage "Spelling with Nixie tubes is less effective because the display is not as readable when upside-down", simply because I'm not very familiar with 7seg displays being implemented with Nixie tubes --- wouldn't that really be pointless, insofar as Nixies can (and most often/almost always do) beautifully display ordinarily shaped (curved) numerals? --Wernher 18:53, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

Homage to calculator spelling in User Friendly

http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20070930&mode=classic

Atlant 13:40, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

BOOBIES is the original?!?

I always thought 55378008 (BOOBLESS) was the original -- 12.116.162.162 (talk) 16:11, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

From my own experience, the original is BOOBIES. —Vanderdecken∴ ∫ξφ 18:29, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

My (Greek) experience says the "original" is 5318537 ("LESBIES"). The point of the anon (if I got it) is valid, I think. The article says:

"The most common application of beghilos calculator spelling is done by students, often when bored during a mathematics lesson. The 'original' attributed example of calculator spelling, is 5318008, which when turned over spells "BOOBIES"."

I personally find the whole sentence as an uncited excuse for including a spicy example. I'll add a {{fact}} tag for now. NikoSilver 13:29, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

Nope, I can confirm (google other sources) from various sites and my own experience, BOOBIES is the students' original. Of course it's an excuse for sauciness, students invented it. Duh. :D —Vanderdecken∴ ∫ξφ 16:15, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

LOL! OK, then fill in those sources in the article please to make it more informative. NikoSilver 16:20, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

"BOOBIES!"?!? whoever wrote this article needs to get a life! Hmstrrnnr (talk) 22:21, 26 December 2009 (UTC)

I always thought the original was the 8 character version, BOOBLESS, as it used all available on screen characters for the calculator, at least back then. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.169.133.49 (talk) 10:11, 21 December 2020 (UTC)

Image

As someone else noted above, the image Beghilos.svg is incomplete. It lacks the six.

Wanderer57 (talk) 23:32, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

What is this?

Can anybody tell me what the point of this article is? It has no sources whatsoever, and no assertion of importance. Wikidan829 (talk) 20:27, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

No inline citations does not mean there are no sources. You didn't have a good look at the article. If it's notable, it doesn't really matter if it's not important. Who determines importance, anyway? Just because you feel that way about the article doesn't mean everyone else does, or should. --Pwnage8 (talk) 22:06, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Example

530477351 spells "I sell hoes". Pimping, if you will. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.251.215.40 (talk) 00:48, 8 November 2008 (UTC)

Looks to me, more like someone in the garden tools business!! DaveDodgy (talk) 11:23, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

Cite needed for "beghilos"?

http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-beg1.htm is an online citation for the use of the word "beghilos" (or links to someone who is).

Query

"Upside-down A has no recognizable correspondence to any standard Latin letter." Erm... what about "V"!--Coin945 (talk) 04:35, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

Scientific calculator spelling

Please note that there are many regional variants. This is for CASIO fx-82MS (incidentally the one I've got at home).

A = A

B = B

C = C

D = D

E = E or e

F = F

G = ^g (the gon sign)

H = X

I = 1

J = 6

K = (usually avoided as there is no simple representation. If necessary use C, the combinations symbol.)

L = 7

M = M

N = π

O = 0

P = P (permutations symbol)

Q = 0- (because of this spaces are represented by . (decimal point).)

R = ^r (the radian sign)

S = 5

T = +

U = ()

V = \/-- (square root sign)

W = \/--\/-- (double square root sign)

X = x (times sign)

Y = Y

Z = 2

? = -!

! = !

Thanks, ²³¹₉₁Pa (chat me, but mind the alphas!) 13:35, 18 October 2009 (UTC)

Unsure about the meaning of this passage

I'm confused about the wording in this passage: the character Plankton tests a formula that turns anything it touches into a baby on his computer "wife." When it works in turning her into a calculator. Is this saying that the formula turns anything it touches into a baby that's stored in Karen, his computerized "wife?" I'm updating the passage to say "computerized" instead of "computer" because I think that makes more sense, but I'm not entirely sure. άλφα7248^Talk 21:10, 7 April 2011 (UTC)

More like BEGhILOSQ - Yura87 (talk) 04:57, 4 November 2013 (UTC)

since what is 6 in normal view, becomes q, not another G, in calculator spelling.

Also, some body-weight pads can display Err if not stood on in time (or stood on too early, or moving), and BAT when battery level is low.