Why Hal Will Never Exist

aengblom writes "Researchers at the University of Maryland's Human-Computer Interaction Lab are suggesting what many of us have already guessed. The future of human-computer interaction won't be through speech--it will remain visual (they explain why). The Washington Post is running a story about the researchers and how they think we will get computers to do what we want. The article is a fascinating read and is joined by a great video clip (real or quicktime) of the researchers and their methods. The Post is holding an online discussion with the researchers tomorrow. Also check-out Photomesa the lab's software program that helps track images on a computer. (Throw a directory with a 1,000 high-res files at this thing and you can justify that pricey new computer you bought)."

Re:Single Modality?

[Prune]

>>The dubious argument about interfering with memory is pretty weak

Technically it is correct. In fact, working memory basically works by repeating over and over the batches of things to be remembered (look up the articulatory rehearsal loop). Moreover, this actually activates brain areas involved with speech, so the connection is not superficial.

Re:Thinking out loud?

[Peyna]

You can think much much much 'faster' than you speak, especially when you aren't talking. The whole speaking at an audible rate thing kinda hinders that. You can't think too far ahead about what you are going to say, you'll be lucky to know what your next sentence is going to be. Where as if you are thinking, you don't have to actually use the words that you would have used to speak, you just 'think' it.

Ever see people that move their mouths when they read? They are reading at the same speed they speak, which makes me wonder if they think at that speed too. I think the really improvement will come in an input mechanism which greatly improves speed. I can type/speak at about the same rate, so one of the advantages typing has over speaking is the ease of entering commands like "move this window over there" or "open this menu and click save". Maybe they should find quicker ways to enter data using our hands and fingers instead of our mouths.