Noisy Calculator, the SR-56

One very interesting feature of the Texas Instruments SR-56 calculator was that it was noisy. I know that sounds strange, but if you held it up to your ear you could hear some quiet humming noises. If you used a trig or a log function it would change the sound as it worked out the answer. I can't think of any other digital devices I've ever owned (actually this particular calculator belonged to my brother Billy) that make noises you can hear. Sure, you can hear your cell phone blasting out data packets over your stereo or PC speaker system, but that's radio interference. This was actual audible noise. I wonder if they made any other noisy calculators back then.

Microcomputer Trainer

I think one of the best things a budding programmer can do is program in machine code. The absolute easiest way to get your toes wet in this skill is by using a microprocessor trainer. Radio Shack used to sell the simplest trainer I've ever seen, and I even have one of these around the house somewhere. Sometimes you can still get these on ebay (in fact that's where I got mine).  

I know this looks like a toy, and it is. For a toy it's serious business. It has a very simple Texas Instruments microprocessor and you program it in machine code using the hex pad. Easy instructions are included. 

https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1053&st=1

Once you've played with one of these, the next fun thing to do is to write a simulator in BASIC. Not that hard to do actually. ;-)