Scratch
archived forums
#1 2007-11-10 11:07:38
- moneymaster1223
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2007-11-05
- Posts: 12
Scratch improved!
Are you tired of putting together 200 blocks to make a well done project? Are you tired of finding blocks to make it all come together? Are you tired of finding the "X" and the "Y" cordinations? Well here is a great idea of survival on Scratch! Say I wanted to make my sprite go on a roller coaster, this is how i would do it.
"Make sprite 1 go on the roller coaster"
Then the program will put your words into blocks! Including the amount of steps and the "X" and the "Y" cordinates!
(Please Scratch programmers this would make scratch so much better and so improved!)
If you like this idea type "I" as a comment and maybe the Scratch programmers can create this!
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#2 2007-11-10 13:44:16
- MyRedNeptune
- Community Moderator
- Registered: 2007-05-07
- Posts: 1000+
Re: Scratch improved!
1. That's impossible. Scripts already are messages that explain the comp what to do. Computers do not understand words. Coding is "communication" between the programmer and the computer.
2. Scratch is an educating devise for kids. They won't learn anything if they had to just type in messages like that.
I know what you're thinking! "Neptune! Get rid of those filthy advertisements and give us back the Zarathustra siggy, you horrible person!" Well, don't worry about it, the Zara siggy will be back soon, new and improved! ^^ Meanwhile, just do what the sig tells you to. >.>Offline
#3 2007-11-10 14:57:34
Re: Scratch improved!
I am also tired of computers not understanding what I want to do.
Actually, there is a whole group of scientists who are also tired of it and are working on that problem. Most of them are in a field called Artificial Intelligence. They need more people to help them because it's a big challenge.
MyRedNeptune is right, one of the goals of Scratch is to think systematically and develop skills that programming really helps to develop.
On the other hand, what you are describing is called natural language programming: the idea of telling the computer what to do as if the computer was a person.
Imagine if you could just talk to any electronic device and tell it in plain English (or Japanese or Spanish or any other language) what you want!? It would be so cool! Like from a science fiction movie!!
As I said, this is a great challenge. Most challenges are solved by people, like you, who were tired of doing the same thing over and over again. Maybe you could develop this when you grow up?
Here are some pages I found that talk about the topic:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~NatProg/
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2006/06/08/inside-inform-7.html
http://www.acmqueue.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=225
There is also some people who don't think natural programming languages are a good idea, there is some discussion about it here:
http://developers.slashdot.org/developers/04/11/16/1753230.shtml?tid=156
I took a class last year with Marvin Minsky, one of the people who started the field of Artificial Intelligence. It was one of the most thought-provoking classes I've taken. He has a new book that you can read on his website:
http://web.media.mit.edu/~minsky/
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