Re: Download as Live Mathematica from Wolfram|Alpha
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg109393] Re: Download as Live Mathematica from Wolfram|Alpha
- From: Mark McClure <mcmcclur at unca.edu>
- Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 04:04:12 -0400 (EDT)
On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 3:51 AM, Fred Klingener <gigabitbucket at brockeng.com> wrote: > On Apr 22, 3:30 am, Syd Geraghty <sydgerag... at mac.com> wrote: > >> Last year a thread started on MathGroup concerning the use of "Download a= > s Live Mathematica" from Wolfram|Alpha generated output. > > For almost a year, I've been trying to figure out ways to extract > results from Wolfram|Alpha output for subsequent use in Mathematica in > any way other than incorporation of pod graphics, I have had some success with this. Suppose, for example, that your input corresponds naturally to a very simple command, such as "integrate sin(x) dx" <--> Integrate[Sin[x],x] In this case, you can click on the output to obtain the Mathematica input that generated the result. I suppose this is nice for folks who are trying to learn Mathematica. I've used it to translate a complicated expression from other systems into Mathematica input. Also, you can obtain the InputForm of graphics from the downloaded "Live Mathematica" notebooks, which is kind of nice. > I've concluded that obstruction of that activity is one of W|A's principal > design goals. > > Even (illegal, according to a strict constructionist view of the Terms > of Use) very slick things that worked with Import[ ] a year ago seem > to have now been blocked. Well, that is a bummer about the Import block. I hadn't noticed that before. I agree that this is very unfortunate. I guess they recently hired a new director who is expected to increase the visibility of WolframAlpha. I guess he was responsible for the improved access on mobile platforms already. Hopefully, they will open up the API as well. If the API were open to the extent that, say, the Google Maps API is, then WolframAlpha could become a powerful tool. Otherwise, I'm afraid it's applications (outside of the one's directly programmed in by the company), are likely to remain toy-like. Mark McClure I find WolframAlpha to be a great tool in the classroom but