Daniel Schulze poses in front of an art installation controlled by a computer program he developed himself. AFP/ Getty/ Barbara Sax
MIT researchers have discovered an algorithm that can convert spoken language to programming commands. The discovery — made at the university’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory — could ease the workload of programmers, and allow users to alter functions of word processing and spreadsheet software.
One part of the technology allows the computer to understand spoken variations of a certain command. The other derives input parsers (needed to prompt commands) from.pdf or .doc files written in normal language. If developed, the discovery could over the long-term reduce the success of private coding instruction institutions such as Codecademy, the push for (and effectiveness of) teaching code in schools, and perhaps even the shortage of qualified programmers in the U.S..
A transition to easier programming would make sense. Operating systems have become user-friendlier over time. Windows put an end to DOS commands; voice-recognition systems and touchscreens are bound to put an end to the need to type and use a mousepad. As part of that progression, the last barrier between the software users and creators will eventually be lifted.
But the findings are just a discovery and not (as far the public knows) in development. In practice, it has worked for only certain types of files. It will be a long time before programming becomes obsolete. Until then, there’s time to take in the benefits.
