Free-Form Linguistic Input In Mathematica 8

vbraga writes "With the release of Mathematica 8, it now allows input through free-form English instead of the Mathematica syntax, just like the Wolfram|Alpha engine. The results are impressive. From the blog post: 'I routinely found myself using free-form linguistics as an integral part of longer computations — randomly interspersing Mathematica syntax and free-form linguistics on different lines in a Mathematica session, and just using whichever was most convenient for a particular input. And here's an exciting part: in Mathematica 8 the free-form linguistics doesn't just operate line-by-line. It knows the context in which it's used in a notebook, so you can use it to build things up.'"

1 up

[Anonymous Coward]

So can you can say things like "there exists a post for which the ordinal index is one?"

Post First

[Hadlock]

How is this going to help me find Natalie Portman get all these hot grits out of my pants? Natural language is all good, and this is a huge step forward, but in 2010, I won't be truly impressed with a tech demo until it can grasp antiquated slashdot memes from almost a decade ago. I know you guys at Wolfram are reading this, so I fully expect something unexpected when I calculate the number of surface area of football fields it takes to hold the library of congress printed out on 8.5x11" paper with 1" margins. Natural language is one thing for mathematicians, it's another for the average 4chan user. Now that's bleeding edge.

Re:1 up

[RevWaldo]

Yes, and it can now handle classical written equations [themathteacher.org] previously resistant to artificial intelligence.

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Re:Freeform linguistics no good unless perfect

[khallow]

It's directly analogous to the "uncanny gulf" between a near-perfect computer-graphics person and a real person. It freaks the hell out of people.

I can sympathize. I've seen the same reaction when people are exposed to a mathematics person (near-perfect or not doesn't really seem to matter).

Re:Basically just Wolfram Alpha integration

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

That's absurd!! what kind of a low life would steal money out of the mouths of Wolfram developers! I know those guys, they already have to live in Illinois, what more punishment would you inflict upon them you callous brutes!

Thats why *I* pirated Maple.