Hutchins' main focus is writing programs that will allow computers to recognize and respond to spoken English, thereby removing the need for a keyboard.
[2] Hutchins' current research is interdisciplinary, straddling the fields of linguistics, physics, and computer science.
[2] She began working at Purdue University as an assistant professor and electrical engineer in 1970 and continued with this position through 1972.
Hutchins then became the senior staff engineer in communications with TRW Defense and Space Systems, where she worked until 1977.
During part of her time with TRW, Hutchins also served as an instructor at Loyola Marymount University, teaching from 1973 to 1974.