[kazinator]

> just develop the computer to interpret commands in common native language syntax directly?

We have that: e.g. Google Assistant. (If you don't mind needing an internet connection, and sending your voice to the cloud.)

> I shouldn't have to remember that ls is list directory contents.

Nobody's had to do that in 35+ years, except those of us who prefer that sort of thing. The rest click on some folder icon or something.

[asdff]

Google Assistant et al do not do that. I can't ask Siri to show the contents of my directory. I can't ask Siri to run anything on the command line at all. These voice assistants just do a number of predefined functions, they don't offer 1:1 control of your device the same as traditional inputs. Yeah, that's true that most people use a GUI, but the point still stands. You have to remember these distinct workflows to do something readily explained in person. An old person might have to take a computer class because they want to send an email, whereas an intutively designed system would take that persons input, "email jake" and do all the behind the scenes stuff we do ourselves to compose emails for us. An ideal computer is a secretary that can do everything you can think of since you are both versed in the native language. Siri is not a perfect secretary, Siri is like an elevator man only able to press one of the couple dozen buttons on the wall for you.

[zepto]

True - but it seems like some middle ground might be possible - where the power of the shell is all available, but with the cognitive support that the GUI provides also present.