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Computer Science · Ch 3 — Emerging Trends

Summary

Summary

  • Emerging trends are state-of-the-art technologies that gain popularity and set new directions; many new technologies fade, while some prosper and reshape the digital economy and digital societies.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) simulates the natural intelligence of humans in machines, making them behave intelligently — imitating cognitive functions such as learning, decision-making and problem solving, using a knowledge base (facts, assumptions and rules) and learning from past outcomes.
  • Machine Learning is a subsystem of AI: algorithms (models) that learn from data using statistical techniques without explicit programming — trained on training data, checked on testing data, then used to predict on new, unknown data.
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP) enables interaction between humans and computers in natural languages (Hindi, English, etc.) — powering predictive typing, spell checking, voice search/control, text-to-speech and speech-to-text, machine translation and automated customer service.
  • Immersive experiences stimulate our senses to make interaction realistic and engaging (e.g. 3D films, driving and flight simulators), achieved through:
    • Virtual Reality (VR) — a three-dimensional, computer-generated situation simulating the real world, which the user explores and interacts with (currently via VR headsets), used in gaming, military training, medical procedures and more.
    • Augmented Reality (AR) — superimposing computer-generated perceptual information over the existing physical surroundings; unlike VR it creates nothing new, only augments the real world (e.g. location-based AR apps).
  • A robot is a computer-programmable machine that carries out tasks automatically with accuracy and precision; types include wheeled, legged, manipulators and humanoids. Examples: NASA's Mars Exploration Rover, the humanoid Sophia, and drones (unmanned, remotely controlled or autonomous aircraft). Robotics is the interdisciplinary study of the design, fabrication, operation and application of robots.
  • Big Data — around 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created daily; the resulting data sets are too voluminous and unstructured for traditional tools, yet may hold information of high business value.
  • Big data has five characteristics: Volume (enormous size), Velocity (rate of generation), Variety (structured, semi-structured and unstructured data), Veracity (trustworthiness) and Value (hidden useful knowledge).
  • Data analytics is the process of examining data sets to draw conclusions about the information they contain, using specialised systems and software; Python's Pandas library simplifies data analysis.
  • The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices with embedded hardware and software that communicate (connect and exchange data) with other devices on the same network — letting household devices collaborate and be controlled remotely via smartphone.
  • The Web of Things (WoT) uses web services to connect anything in the physical world through one common interface (instead of one app per device), paving the way for smart homes, offices and cities.
  • A sensor (smart sensor) takes input from the physical environment and uses built-in computing resources to perform predefined functions on specific input, processing the data before passing it on — e.g. the accelerometer (orientation) and gyroscope (rotation) in a phone.
  • A smart city uses computer and communication technology with IoT to manage and distribute resources efficiently — smart buildings sensing tremors, smart bridges detecting loose bolts or cracks, smart tunnels detecting leakage or congestion, all reporting to centralised computers.
  • Cloud computing delivers computer-based services (software, servers, databases, storage) over the Internet, accessible anywhere on any device, charged pay-per-use. Its three service models are IaaS (infrastructure: servers, VMs, storage), PaaS (a ready platform to develop, test and deliver applications) and SaaS (on-demand application software such as Google Docs or Office 365). India's government cloud initiative is GI Cloud, 'MeghRaj'. …
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