The first time I read about voice programming (in Heinlin's 'Number of the Beast', the flying car they use is voice programmable[1]) I considered how you'd impl

The first time I read about voice programming (in Heinlin's 'Number of the Beast', the flying car they use is voice programmable[1]) I considered how you'd implement it and figured what they do in the book was too cumbersome - essentially natural language. What they did do though, was create shortcut commands for sequences of commands, then shortcuts based on shortcuts... and this to me suggested a Forth-like language might be a better fit. I think it's still the case, C-like languages have too much grammar going on to deal with without visuals, forth is grammar-free. Also, it's naturally shell-like; instead of your 'run the code', just say the function you need to execute; you can test and redefine each function as you go. I attempted to build this on a ZX Spectrum in 1983, based on some voice recognition code from a magazine...needless to say I didn't get too far with that hardware. I should have another go. [1] Sample: "Program. L axis add speed vector three point six klicks per second. Paraphrase acknowledge." "Increase forward speed three and six tenths kilometers per second." "Chief Pilot?" "Level." "Execute." Deety glanced at the board. "Gay Deceiver, H-above-G will soon stop decreasing, then increase very slowly. In about fifty minutes it will maximize. Program. When H-above-G is maximum, alert me." "Roger Wilco." "If-when one hundred klicks H-above-G, alert me." "Roger Wilco." "If-when air drag exceeds zero, alert me." "Roger Wilco." "Remain in piloting mode. Ignore voices including program code words until you are called by your full name. Acknowledge by reporting your full name." "`Gay Deceiver,'" answered Gay Deceiver.