The pace with which computing technologies advance these days can only be described as staggering. Ever since French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal invented the first mechanical calculating machine in 1642, our computing capabilities have increased by leaps and bounds. This, in turn, has allowed us to do a great many things, from being able to communicate remotely with our loved ones to send the first humans to space.
There are many more emerging computing trends today that we expect will see widespread adoption in the future. Some of these technologies are already existing in nascent and full-fledged stages. In contrast, others are still theoretical and will likely be developed once our physics and computing knowledge becomes more advanced. Read on to learn more about these incredible trends.
Real-Time Analytics
Each day, businesses and government agencies worldwide rely on real-time systems to keep abreast of the changes happening around them. Organizations already use real-time data analytics to make faster, more timely, and more relevant business decisions and make sure that processes that are critical to their operations and delivery of services run like clockwork.
Examples of industries that benefit from real-time analytics include the retail and logistics industries, which use real-time systems to optimize their supply chains and fulfillment services. Banking firms and law enforcement agencies can also use real-time analytics to deploy predictive artificial intelligence and machine learning systems to help stop fraud and terrorist funding activities even before they happen.
Deep Learning
Deep learning is a subset of machine learning that has its basis on representation learning. It’s a technique that enables computers to perform what is natural and easy for humans and other animals to do, learning by example.
This technology has numerous practical applications. It is behind the voice recognition and voice control technologies used in many mobile and home automation devices today. On top of this, deep learning can also be used in other applications like driverless car development, drug discovery, language translation, image recognition, robotics, and bioinformatics.
Internet of Things
Another innovation that is likely to see widespread expansion shortly is the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT is the interconnected network of computing devices and smart everyday objects that can communicate and send data. IoT has many significant applications in our lives, including the management of our homes, transportation networks, and water and energy systems. This network of objects with smart sensors and connectivity capabilities will be the fabric upon which increasingly smart cities will be built.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
These days, VR and AR technologies are reaching levels of unprecedented functionality, dependability, and affordability, which means many more organizations and individuals will be able to take advantage of their benefits.
Many people are already familiar with AR and VR’s increasing popularity in consumer electronics, which often deploy them as entertainment and gaming technologies. However, AR and VR have many other potential applications. For instance, they can be used for training personnel in the medical and aeronautics sectors, and they can also be employed in museums and educational institutions as instructional technologies. Law enforcement and military agencies can likewise use AR and VR technologies to simulate soldiers’ and cops’ environments to train in.
Sometimes, you might think about how fast your internet has become since the days of dial-up internet. But if you were to be told that your 4G connectivity can become 10 times faster when the next generation of cellular mobile communications technology rolls out, how would you feel?
This is exactly what’s going to happen when we finally have 5G networks in place, as 5G is a technology that’s going to be built around high data rates, diminished latency, and even energy reduction. It’s going to be the “magic” that makes many things possible in the modern world, including advanced gaming, the Internet of Things, and smart transportation networks.
Multi-Access Edge Computing
In turn, many experts believe that the building block for 5G will be multi-access edge computing or mobile edge computing. This type of computing involves performing cloud computing applications, IT services, and data processing closer to the cellular end user. As a result, significantly faster computing speeds, reduced latency, diminished network congestion, and overall better computing performance can be achieved.
As computers and smart objects become even more powerful extensions of the human mind and body, we can only expect our computing and communication technologies to become more advanced. How do you think the technologies listed above will affect your daily life?