What would be a revolution in excel is if we could have probability distributions in cells. Right now all spreadsheets are fairly deterministic and we think that tells us something about the real world. Having an ability to make cells distributions (and then all resultant cells would be distributions too) would represent the uncertainty in the world better (and expose lots of interesting things like distributions of tails)
Guesstimate (<a href="https://getguesstimate.com" rel="nofollow">https://getguesstimate.com) has been around for years. I assumed Excel and Google would incorporate its features quickly, but it never seems to have taken off.
Features:
- All cells are named (auto named if you don't set them)
- Cells can have single values, many types of probability distribution, or sample data
- Formulas also produce distributions as first class outputs, because calculation is a Monte Carlo sim
- Each cell also has a pop-up box that invites you to explain your reasoning -- built in documentation
It got so much right. Sample data particularly useful because you can build a probabilistic bottom-up forecast and then update it with real-world data.
Right, and that's why it doesn't really matter what innovative things don't get added to Excel because people wouldn't be using them.
Spreadsheets at their core are a visual intetaction model; a table with cells that can affect other cells. Beyond that core, you can do whatever you want - including with Excel, so the 10% that don't want to treated as a calculator can do so with a little bit of bespoke programming.
I've implemented several business applications where Excel was the user agent against specialized backend services. This was before the browser took over the front end in developer's mindset.
m101 · · focus · HN ↗
lorenzowood · · focus · HN ↗
Features:
- All cells are named (auto named if you don't set them)
- Cells can have single values, many types of probability distribution, or sample data
- Formulas also produce distributions as first class outputs, because calculation is a Monte Carlo sim
- Each cell also has a pop-up box that invites you to explain your reasoning -- built in documentation
It got so much right. Sample data particularly useful because you can build a probabilistic bottom-up forecast and then update it with real-world data.
gregdeon · · focus · HN ↗
baxtr · · focus · HN ↗
goatlover · · focus · HN ↗
baxtr · · focus · HN ↗
ponector · · focus · HN ↗
intrasight · · focus · HN ↗
Spreadsheets at their core are a visual intetaction model; a table with cells that can affect other cells. Beyond that core, you can do whatever you want - including with Excel, so the 10% that don't want to treated as a calculator can do so with a little bit of bespoke programming.
I've implemented several business applications where Excel was the user agent against specialized backend services. This was before the browser took over the front end in developer's mindset.