In an educational project with ethically questionable applications, [ChromaLock] has converted the ubiquitous TI-84 calculator into the ultimate cheating device.
The foundation of this hack lies in the TI-84’s link protocol, which has been a mainstay in calculator mods for years. [ChromaLock] uses this interface to connect to a tiny WiFi-enabled XIAO ESP32-C3 module hidden in the calculator. It’s mounted on a custom PCB with a simple MOSFET-based level shifting circuit, and slots neatly into a space on the calculator rear cover. The connecting wires are soldered directly to the pads of the 2.5 mm jack, and to the battery connections for power.
But what does this mod do? It connects your calculator to the internet and gives you a launcher with several applets. These allow you to view images badly pixelated images on the TI-84’s screen, text-chat with an accomplice, install more apps or notes, or hit up ChatGPT for some potentially hallucinated answers. Inputting long sections of text on the calculator’s keypad is a time-consuming process, so [ChromaLock] teased a camera integration, which will probably make use of newer LLMs image input capabilities. The ESP32 doesn’t handle all the heavy lifting, and needs to connect to an external server for more complex interfaces.
To prevent pre-installed programs from being used for cheating on TI-84s, examiners will often wipe the memory or put it into test mode. This mod can circumvent both. Pre-installed programs are not required on the calculator to interface with the hardware module, and installing the launcher is done by sending two variables containing a password and download command to the ESP32 module. The response from the module will also automatically break the calculator out of test mode.
We cannot help but admire [ChromaLock]’s ingenuity and polished implementation, and hopefully our readers are more interested in technical details than academic self-sabotage. For those who need even more capability in their calculator, we’d suggest checking out the NumWorks.
Love the delicacy on how this article was approached :)
It will always baffle me that the most creative students that less need to cheat, are the ones that go into these extents lol
it makes sense to me. The rote memorization needed to pass the exam would have been hours and hours of excruciation. But hacking is fun filled hours of dopamine release.
Exactly. It’s gives you a challenge, something fun and exciting to do
They really do need to make education more realistic.
Focus on teaching students how to learn, how to read and interpret different forms of data, how to think critically, how to read formulas, etc.
Then to test them you’d give them all the information they need to answer the question and the students would need to rely on their abilities to interpret. That’s how the real world works. I can search online and find answers for pretty much anything, but you need to actually understand the answers, and know how to follow the formulas.
“They really do need to make education more realistic.”
And more fun. Learning works so much better if you’re being fascinated by a certain topic.
The environment, the ambience also is important. You can’t really learn or write an exam at a hostile place.
Alas, schools, universities and other places of education have no idea about the importance of psychology.
In highschool my entire AP class cheated. It was only made easier when the teachers think you’re a model student and leave during tests… then it became a class wide cheating session. If you tried cheating in a normal class you’d always have a snitch.
In college cheating was more creative, in my calc 3 course the teacher said he’d curve the final exam which was 60% of our grade. Guess what we did? We all agreed to bomb the test so everyone would pass… I got a 30% on the test and it was the highest grade so I got an A.
The point is, cheating is easier to do than study for hours. Anyone with a brain will always find the easiest way to get anything done.
I think you’ll find the solution to this paradox in the phrase “I can connect your calculator to the internet for $500”.
Though, I’m not sure how practical this is for cheating anyway. How do you convince a teacher it’s a perfectly ordinary calculator set to English Literature mode?
Looks like an ordinary calculator OS until you set a few magic variables.
As long as it’s a test where you could reasonable use a calculator, you’re golden.
Well, there’s this story that Konrad Zuse did invent his Z3 computer in 1941 as a student because he was a little bit lazy and didn’t like doing boring kind of math over and over again. ;) Speaking under correction, though.
I spent 230 hours working on a wifi hack instead of studying for the physics final. 🤔
It will still need a WiFi connection?
Probably yes, but since this is an ESP32 you could probably also use a SIM reader and rely instead on GSM/UMTS/LTE (mobile data) for your cheating needs. A SIM module would probably need more power.
Or just have your phone on hotspot.
2 words: wireless hotspot
Hack-tastic.
And this becomes reason to wrap exam rooms with wifi and GSM signal blockers.
Paint up a Faraday cage.
Alternatively, this is a reason to write exams that are open-book, open-internet, and require students to solve open-ended problems with multiple solutions
I believe this is the correct answer. The problem is, it requires teachers to actually know the course material, which is unfortunately sometimes expecting too much. It also requires far more time than school boards are willing to compensate teachers for. This would absolutely be the best solution for humanity, but very few are willing to invest what is required.
If it’s open internet, what’s to stop them DMing somebody for the answer? That’s a problem that’s hard / impossible to solve at scale
And this is why America’s IQ level is dropping and at least 20 other countries graduate better undergrad and postgraduates/doctorials students
Yeah score high, but still come out just as dumb as they went in
They will ban you from using your own calculators now, and supply you with ones that are clean and not tampered with.
Ah yes, cheating doesn’t exist outside America so that’s clearly the problem with America (smh). I just read an article about rampant cheating in China and other parts of Asia because not having a degree is a road to poverty. As opposed to the US where its possible to become wealthy through a good idea, great business sense, or other skills.
Higher education needs a lot of change to fit the modern world. More specialization wouldn’t hurt as a start, so a focused degree doesn’t require years worth of pointless classes you’ll never actually need in your chosen field (there is a reason the tech industry quickly got to the point they didn’t consider a degree to be a requirement on a resume).