National Institute of the Republic of Serbia
ὅδε οἶκος, ὦ ἑταῖρε, μνημεῖον ἐστιν ζωῶν τῶν σοφῶν ἀνδρῶν, καὶ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν
The Texas Instruments SR-52, introduced in 1975 by Texas Instruments (TI), was a groundbreaking handheld electronic calculator. It was the first programmable calculator with a built-in magnetic card reader, allowing users to store and reload programs—a significant innovation for its time. Designed for engineers, scientists, and professionals, the SR-52 could handle complex mathematical calculations and custom algorithms. Users could program it using a keycode system, enabling advanced tasks such as statistical analysis, engineering computations, and financial modeling. The calculator was often used in academia, research, and industries where precision and automation of repetitive calculations were essential. The historical significance of the SR-52 lies in its role as a precursor to modern programmable devices. It democratized computing power, providing an affordable and portable solution for tasks that previously required large, expensive computers. It set the stage for the development of future portable computing tools.
Creator: Texas Instruments, 1975
Source: Gift of Zoran Marković
Text prepared by Marija Šegan-Radonjić, Maja Novaković
Photo by Dragan Aćimović
