Roger D Metcalf DDS, JD

 

Forensic Odontology

and Some Other Stuff

 

 

 Odontologists--remember we need basic, foundational research in all areas of our discipline.  Are our procedures scientifically valid? 

 

Critically examine everything we've been taught.  Question the scientific basis of every standard, guideline, best practice, or principle followed.

 

Keep in mind  the quote attributed to W. Edwards Deming: "Without data you are just another person with an opinion."  I would add, if you use incorrect data, you are commit forensic malpractice, because, after all: "First, do no harm."

 

Merely saying "we're following the science" without verifying that the "science" being followed is actually true is the same thing that a religion or cult does.

 

 

 

 

Roger D Metcalf DDS, JD
PO Box 137442
Fort Worth, TX 76136-1442

ph: +1-817-371-3312
fax: +1-817-378-4882

metcalfdds@gmail.com

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  • Doyle v. State of Texas
  • Striae of Retzius and Perikymata
  • Statistics Stuff
    • Best Calculators for Stats Class
    • Calculating exact p-value for a t-statistic
    • Calculating exact p-value for an F-ratio and for Chi Square
    • Some things that would be cool to have with calculators
  • Dental Age Guesstimation Bibliography
  • "Bite This!"
  • Contact

Wish list--some things that would be cool to have with calculators


TI-84

Inverse F and Chi Sq functions.

 

TI-89

Adjustment to make the dafault font a smidgen larger.  Backlit color touchscreen would be nice.


Anyone

    The Maple Calculator app for iPhone is, I think, simply incredible.  It would be very cool if some calculator manufacturer would put a camera into a calculator for capturing printed and handwritten equations (like the iPhone/Maple Calculator will do) and link that to Maple or Mathematica.  The calculator--such as the HP Prime--could itself handle a lot of calculations, but also could act as a front end preprocessor for really complex stuff it hands off to Maple or Mathematica--basically, I guess, just put a camera on a calculator, get handwriting recognition, and port the Maple Calculator app over.  It wouldn't really have to have wireless capability like the iPhone--if something was complex enough to hand off to Maple or Mathematica, just connect with USB.  Having wireless capability is a huge concern regarding cheating during exams, so just don't even enable it to begin with.

   Back in the day, Casio had the handheld A-23G Cassiopeia Pocket Computer and there was a compact flash card with Maple software--I have one of these--and HP had the LX-95/100/200 with DERIVE on a compact flash card--I also have a couple of those, as well.  Then TI acquired DERIVE and it's been the basis of their CAS system since.  The HP Prime CAS is now based on Xcas/Giac.  So I think some foundation for doing this is already out there.

 

The Maple Calculator app for iPhone.

HP Prime

   With the Probability Wizard--move the darn "OK" soft key to a different spot away from the "SOLVE" soft key, or re-label it "EXIT."  It is SO easy to enter all your data and then absentmindedly just click "OK" instead of "SOLVE"--instead of doing your calculation you get kicked back to the main screen and you have the opportunity to start all over again.

   A huge downside to the HP's when one starts getting into material more advanced than intro stats is that the CAS is not at all seamlessly integrated with RPN entry-one has to change modes to "Algebraic" or "Textbook" in the middle of calculations--and it is very awkward to work back and forth if you want to work in RPN and use the CAS.

    The Prime is sort of like two calculators in one--the RPN one you can get when you press the black "Home" button, and the CAS mode you get when you press the black "CAS" button.  Actually it's more like three calculators because there's the "Algebraic" entry mode and the "Textbook" entry mode, as well--so we have an RPN area, an Algebraic area, and a Textbook area.  Variables across CAS and these modes are sometimes handled confusingly--well, always confusingly.  Get used to "Syntax Error" messages and trying to figure out whether you need to be in RPN mode or CAS mode.

    The TI's have their DERIVE-based CAS integrated with their calculator functions much better than HP does.

   It would be awesome if HP had a CAS that handled RPN well.



Casio Classpad fx-CG-500

Some actual function keys on the keyboard instead of having to enter so many things via the touchscreen would be nice.

 


NumWorks

1) ANOVA

2) With the INFERENCE app, it would be great if "Tests" and "Intervals" would pick up the values calculated from the "Statistics" app as default entries (that could be edited, of course).



© Copyright 2013, 2019 Roger D Metcalf. All worldwide rights reserved.  No reproduction without permission.  Neither the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's District, Tarrant County, the American Board of Forensic Odontolgy, the American Society of Forensic Odontology, the Royal College of Physicians, Oklahoma State University, nor any other organizaion mentioned here necessarily supports or endorses any information on this website.  Any opinions, errors, or omissions are my responsibility, and mine alone.  This site DOES NOT REPRESENT the official views of any of these--or any other-- organizations.  Similarly, those other organizations may not fully represent my views, either.

 

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Roger D Metcalf DDS, JD
PO Box 137442
Fort Worth, TX 76136-1442

ph: +1-817-371-3312
fax: +1-817-378-4882

metcalfdds@gmail.com