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The problem with Wolfram Alpha is this: it's awesome when a query works, but often it either doesn't understand your query on the first try, or it just doesn't have the data or computation you're after.

Siri has the same UI problem. You either have to read through the list of commands and memorize a few, or you have to deal with the constant frustration of trying something three times before giving up and doing it manually.

That said, these UIs are fun for a coder. :-) It'd be cool if somebody were to track and curate interesting Wolfram Alpha queries in a blog/tumblr/subreddit. The closest thing I could find was this:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-search-terms-put-wolfram-alp...



Dude did you look at the link?

The new features are all about bypassing that. You just give it the data, instead of a language-esque query.

And there is a lot more UI too, for manipulating plots and such.


Sorry, I guess I went off on a tangent not directly related to the link you posted. :-) You're absolutely right. Have you used the new Wolfram Alpha UIs for anything serious yet? How did you find them?





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