Improving Compiler Error Messages [OT]

[Nick Sabalausky]

"Walter Bright" <newshound1 at digitalmars.com> wrote in message 
news:hrn5ft$oq2$1 at digitalmars.com...
> Nick Sabalausky wrote:
>> I'm also another person that finds semicolons magically appearing at the 
>> end of statements...even when I use a language that doesn't allow them ;)
>
> It's funny how that works. I was once asked what the key command was for a 
> particular operation in my text editor. I didn't know, so I started the 
> editor and did the operation, watching my fingers, and reported the key 
> command.

I've noticed that a lot in videogames. I never know what button does what, 
but after trying a few buttons I get a "feel" for the controls, and on 
subsequent plays, I still have no idea what does what, but as soon as I grab 
the controller I can just "do" everything. I think most gamers are like this 
too.

There's been mention about this in Scientific Americam Mind recently. Don't 
remember exactly which issue or article, but there was a big thing about the 
brain's "sense of body ownership", that part of the brain responsible for 
it, the implications of it (such as how controls can become second-nature, 
such as when driving a car - the brain literally treats it as if it were 
part of the body, about the only difference is that a real limb has neurons 
that act as a "mini-brain" that can learn - that part wasn't mentioned in 
the article, but the Science Channel talked about it once), and the problems 
that can arise when this mechanism gets confused (out-of-body experience, 
phantom limbs, "disowning" limbs and in some cases assuming the limb to be 
"evil" or a communist (I'm not making that up!)).