4 ms·

Get this (unless you have a very small laptop, like a netbook) and put it on your dash: http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4205894 http://www.ecrater.com/pr

Get this (unless you have a very small laptop, like a netbook) and put it on your dash: http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4205894 http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4205894 Then, get this: http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/landing/consumer.asp http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/landing/consumer.asp (DNS will probably fail in a noisy car, but worth a shot) Dictate code on the road. Edit: Be sure to configure a bunch of commands/templates in DNS so you can generate blocks of helper code. Edit: Potentially related video (haven't watched, just found it while Googling) http://revver.com/video/348539/driving-writing-with-dragon-naturally-speaking-9/ http://revver.com/video/348539/driving-writing-with-dragon-n...

middus 17y ago
I don't understand how one can share one's attention between driving and a screen without increasing the risk to get into an accident.
- thetrumanshow 17y ago
  The display is just for quick glances to make sure the software rendered a For-loop template instead of "fruit loops". Otherwise, I would have recommended a bigger display. IMO, you can get good enough at this that the amount of distraction is pretty small. Equivalent, perhaps, to the amount of distraction involved in changing radio stations. But, you would need some self-discipline to achieve this. Also, I am not really talking about creating compileable code. You would use this to mockup a solution. Like pseudo-code, only a bit more fleshed-out. Edit: I didn't address the main point of your reply... "I don't understand how one can share one's attention between driving and a screen without increasing the risk to get into an accident." Yes, using this idea you might be increasing your risk of an accident.
icey 17y ago
This is an interesting idea, but honestly I'd probably end up rear-ending someone if I did it. However, have you ever tried programming using text-to-speech? It strikes me as an experience that would be maddening. I have thought about taking a voice recorder with me just to dictate ideas though.
- thetrumanshow 17y ago
  "This is an interesting idea, but honestly I'd probably end up rear-ending someone if I did it." Yes, this idea works best for long stretches of road with little traffic. The 45 mile stretch of highway I drive on is isolated. "However, have you ever tried programming using text-to-speech? It strikes me as an experience that would be maddening." Try downloading the evaluation version of DNS and give it a spin. I think you'll feel the potential pretty quickly, especially if you try making custom commands. The cumbersome nature of the speech-to-text interface may prove too much, but it's worth a try right? What is maddening to me is giving up ~2 hours of the most productive time of the day. I was even desperate enough to try programming on a phone (a Peek email device). "I have thought about taking a voice recorder with me just to dictate ideas though." I've tried this as well, and it is not ideal. If you have ever sat down to design something and within minutes you abandon the design to start coding, you'll understand. Coding is the low-energy state.

middus 17y ago

I don't understand how one can share one's attention between driving and a screen without increasing the risk to get into an accident.

thetrumanshow 17y ago
The display is just for quick glances to make sure the software rendered a For-loop template instead of "fruit loops". Otherwise, I would have recommended a bigger display. IMO, you can get good enough at this that the amount of distraction is pretty small. Equivalent, perhaps, to the amount of distraction involved in changing radio stations. But, you would need some self-discipline to achieve this. Also, I am not really talking about creating compileable code. You would use this to mockup a solution. Like pseudo-code, only a bit more fleshed-out. Edit: I didn't address the main point of your reply... "I don't understand how one can share one's attention between driving and a screen without increasing the risk to get into an accident." Yes, using this idea you might be increasing your risk of an accident.

icey 17y ago

This is an interesting idea, but honestly I'd probably end up rear-ending someone if I did it. However, have you ever tried programming using text-to-speech? It strikes me as an experience that would be maddening. I have thought about taking a voice recorder with me just to dictate ideas though.

thetrumanshow 17y ago
"This is an interesting idea, but honestly I'd probably end up rear-ending someone if I did it." Yes, this idea works best for long stretches of road with little traffic. The 45 mile stretch of highway I drive on is isolated. "However, have you ever tried programming using text-to-speech? It strikes me as an experience that would be maddening." Try downloading the evaluation version of DNS and give it a spin. I think you'll feel the potential pretty quickly, especially if you try making custom commands. The cumbersome nature of the speech-to-text interface may prove too much, but it's worth a try right? What is maddening to me is giving up ~2 hours of the most productive time of the day. I was even desperate enough to try programming on a phone (a Peek email device). "I have thought about taking a voice recorder with me just to dictate ideas though." I've tried this as well, and it is not ideal. If you have ever sat down to design something and within minutes you abandon the design to start coding, you'll understand. Coding is the low-energy state.