After going all-in with its chips, Texas Instruments tried its hand at toys and calculators Dallas-based Texas Instruments helped transform the field of electronics. The TI-2500 DataMath, a single-chip calculator with a few basic functions, was introduced in 1972.(Texas Instruments / Digital File_EMAIL) . A TI-84 graphing calculator is as ubiquitous as a No. 2 pencil to many high school students. The Dallas-based company behind the acronym — Texas Instruments — creates more than educational tools and is responsible for helping to transform the field of electronics. Geophysical Science Inc. eventually became Texas Instruments Inc. as the company diversified.(Texas Instruments / Digital File_EMAIL)