Heads up! The discussion in Congress about the capture, storage, and analysis of your phone calls, emails, and other electronic communications by the U.S. National Security Administration appears to be the tip of a huge iceberg. And some people thought 1984 and Blade Runner are fiction, entertainment, not forecast, introduction.
This year, 2013, IBM researchers are exploring the idea that everything will learn– driven by a new era of software based cognitive systems (as in robotics) where machines will learn, reason and engage with us in a more natural and personalized way. IBM calls this the 5-in-5, that’s five innovations in five years.
Steve Hamm argues that this vision is not science fiction. Because of today’s advances in computing, we’ll hold learning machines in our hands ,,, (and) They’ll learn not just about us as individuals but about the collective us. Over time, they’ll get better at serving the needs of society as a whole.
These innovations are beginning to emerge enabled by cloud computing, big data analytics and learning technologies all coming together.
1. In five years, the classroom will learn about you. .. The classroom of the future will learn about each individual student over the course of their schooling. Video (01.39 minutes)
2. Buying local will beat online. Cognitive systems will use your personal experiences to offer the instant gratification of physical shopping with the richness of online shopping and making same-day delivery a snap. Video (01.29 minutes)
3. Doctors will routinely use your DNA to keep you well by using cognitive systems to aid in selecting treatments, including of cancers. Video (01.31 minutes)
4. A digital guardian will have your back to help secure your digital files based on a 360 degree of an individual’s data, devices and applications. It will make inferences about what’s normal or reasonable activity and what’s not, ready to spot deviations. Video (01.33 minutes)
5. The city will help you live in it. Through your smart phone that identifies your activities and preferences, it will make your life easier. Video (01.33 minutes)
As a point of contrast, the New Era School Initiative (NESI) and a learners’ view (ALV) achieve some of the same results, but without the invasion of social privacy.
Rock on, speak out, or whatever?