Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

[leegs]

This site just opened/started on Saturday. Its a 'knowledge engine', as opposed to a search engine, e.g. Google.

http://www61.wolframalpha.com/screen...framalpha.html

Ask it questions and it provides not links, but answers, and very much data is 'calculatable'. I've only played with it for about 30 minutes so far, but my impression is that it is F*#@ing awesome.

My preteen daughter is pretty impressed with it too.

[LargoWinch]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

This site just opened/started on Saturday. Its a 'knowledge engine', as opposed to a search engine, e.g. Google.

http://www61.wolframalpha.com/screen...framalpha.html

Ask it questions and it provides not links, but answers, and very much data is 'calculatable'. I've only played with it for about 30 minutes so far, but my impression is that it is F*#@ing awesome.

My preteen daughter is pretty impressed with it too.

Thanks leegs. The concept is very neat.

I did type gold ( what else?).

[Sidewinder]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

Best public display of integrated natural language processing, database management, search, graphing and mathematics I've seen.

Seems a little green yet but having been a fan of Mathematica for 20 yrs I can believe it is just a stepping stone to a much greater capability in the near future.

FWIW Alpha cannot graph the US GDP from 1970 - 2007 (latest data it can provide) so I am skeptical to the utility of WolframAlpha for economic analysis just yet. Try queries - make comments to the Alpha team and let's see if they can get Alpha to where it can quickly provide meaningful replies.

If you have had success - would like to see your query / examples.

Thanks
SW

[labasta]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

I don't know about anyone else, but Wolfram reminds me of a very early and primitive (limited) version of the Star Trek next generation computer.

You know, something like, "Computer, how long do we have until we enter sub nebular space?"
"At current trajectory, the Enterprise will enter sub nebular space in 2 minutes and 34 seconds".

Something like that lol.

[Sapiens]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

I don't know about anyone else, but Wolfram reminds me of a very early and primitive (limited) version of the Star Trek next generation computer.

You know, something like, "Computer, how long do we have until we enter sub nebular space?"
"At current trajectory, the Enterprise will enter sub nebular space in 2 minutes and 34 seconds".

Something like that lol.

I agree. Although Stephen can be a bit of P. T. Barnum, I have an affinity for his software applications. Having said that, WolframAlpha may indeed be very useful in the future.

[metalman]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

I don't know about anyone else, but Wolfram reminds me of a very early and primitive (limited) version of the Star Trek next generation computer.

You know, something like, "Computer, how long do we have until we enter sub nebular space?"
"At current trajectory, the Enterprise will enter sub nebular space in 2 minutes and 34 seconds".

Something like that lol.

bwah ha ha! same reaction! can't get a usable answer out of it.

[blazespinnaker]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

I suspect google is nervous.

[roxtar]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

I suspect google is nervous.

Clicking on the "search the web for" link sends you over to google.
I think the learning curve present with this thing is something that will have to be overcome in order to make it useful for the masses.

[Sharky]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

Definitely awesome software! Be sure to watch the demonstration video.

FWIW Alpha cannot graph the US GDP from 1970 - 2007 (latest data it can provide) so I am skeptical to the utility of WolframAlpha for economic analysis just yet.

If I type "us gdp", it produces a nice graph of GDP history from 1970 to 2007. What more are you expecting?

[Sidewinder]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

Definitely awesome software! Be sure to watch the demonstration video.



If I type "us gdp", it produces a nice graph of GDP history from 1970 to 2007. What more are you expecting?

I was expecting just that. Yesterda when I tried "USA GDP" (and more than a couple variations) it didn't know what I was talking about. Sent a comment to the developers, maybe they worked on it??

Thanks for the heads up - I'll try it again!

Thx SW

[santafe2]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

This site just opened/started on Saturday. Its a 'knowledge engine', as opposed to a search engine, e.g. Google.

http://www61.wolframalpha.com/screen...framalpha.html

Ask it questions and it provides not links, but answers, and very much data is 'calculatable'. I've only played with it for about 30 minutes so far, but my impression is that it is F*#@ing awesome.

My preteen daughter is pretty impressed with it too.

I tried the following:
Is the US bankrupt?
Are interest rates moving up soon?
Is the stock market over bought?
Is the economy going to be better in 2010?

To all of these I got the following:

Wolfram|Alpha isn't sure what to do with your input.

Then I asked it a sample question:
What's 2+2?

You know what? It's 4! And I received 3 different representations of the answer. Now I know where the MSM go to get their answers.

This is an online magic act. Knowledge is perception combined with reason. What's scary to me is that a slightly more sophisticated parlor trick will suffice for knowledge in 20 years. Hell, it might pass for wisdom.

[WildspitzE]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

too bad I can't get historicals re: ^dji / price of gold

or, ^dji adjusted for inflation ... can it adjust anything for inflation?

[blazespinnaker]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is AWESOME

yeah, that's what I tried right away as well. I suspect it'll be coming soon though.

Another one I did was 0.05 basis points of 2 billion. That worked nicely.

It's actually a very sophisticated tool if you know a lot of science and math.

[leegs]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is pretty neat.

Having used it a bit more, I guess its not quite awesome, not even lower-case awesome, much less in caps.

I have found it to be quite handy for geographic / population information and rankings. It also is a good calculator, and seems to be quite smart with handling units of measure. Its not terrible for an initial inquiry about companies, although certainly its no charting program.

It can tell you how popular your name is, and has been over time. I found that my parents weren't too original, as they gave my sister and me our names at the peak of their (the names') popularity.

I have to admit that it's has been pretty disappointing in the arena on which this forum is focused.

[Sidewinder]

Re: Wolfram Alpha is pretty neat.

Having used it a bit more, I guess its not quite awesome, not even lower-case awesome, much less in caps.

I have found it to be quite handy for geographic / population information and rankings. It also is a good calculator, and seems to be quite smart with handling units of measure. Its not terrible for an initial inquiry about companies, although certainly its no charting program.

It can tell you how popular your name is, and has been over time. I found that my parents weren't too original, as they gave my sister and me our names at the peak of their (the names') popularity.

I have to admit that it's has been pretty disappointing in the arena on which this forum is focused.

Unfortunately ended up feeling much the same way. Having touched on natural language processing, SGML and AI in my previous life - had pretty high hopes, largely unanswered with Alpha.