<h5 id="31-introduction">3.1 INTRODUCTION</h5> <ul> <li>Computers and new technologies are constantly evolving, with many emerging trends appearing regularly.</li> <li>Some of these trends do not stand the test of time, while others prosper and gain popularity among users.</li> <li>Emerging trends can significantly impact the future of digital economies and interactions in digital societies.</li> <li>Computer science is not solely about computers, much like astronomy is not solely about telescopes.</li> <li>In this chapter, the focus is on understanding and highlighting some of the significant emerging trends in technology.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="32-artificial-intelligence-ai">3.2 Artificial Intelligence (AI)</h5> <ul> <li>Artificial Intelligence (AI) simulates natural intelligence in machines, enabling them to behave intelligently.</li> <li>AI aims to imitate cognitive functions of humans like learning, decision-making, and problem-solving, with minimum human intervention.</li> <li>AI systems create a knowledge base, a store of information including facts, assumptions, and rules, for decision-making.</li> <li>AI systems can learn from past experiences or outcomes for making new decisions.</li> <li>Examples of AI applications include intelligent digital personal assistants (Siri, Google Now, Cortana, Alexa) and image recognition in social networking sites.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="321-machine-learning">3.2.1 Machine Learning</h5> <ul> <li>Machine Learning (ML) is a subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that enables computers to learn from data using statistical methods.</li> <li>ML algorithms, also known as models, learn from data and make predictions.</li> <li>These models are trained and tested using separate datasets, allowing them to accurately predict new and unknown data.</li> <li>After successful training, ML models can be used in various applications, such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), to help differently-abled persons.</li> <li>NLP, a subset of ML, is used in applications such as speech recognition, machine translation, and text-to-speech conversion, which can greatly benefit differently-abled individuals.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="322-natural-language-processing-nlp">3.2.2 Natural Language Processing (NLP)</h5> <ul> <li>Natural Language Processing (NLP) involves interaction between humans and computers using human languages like English and Hindi.</li> <li>It enables predictive typing, spell checking, voice-activated web searches, and device control.</li> <li>An NLP system can perform text-to-speech and speech-to-text conversion.</li> <li>Machine translation is an emerging field in NLP where machines can translate texts from one language to another with reasonable accuracy.</li> <li>Automated customer service is another growing application, allowing computers to interact with customers to address their queries or complaints.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="323-immersive-experiences">3.2.3 Immersive Experiences</h5> <ul> <li>Immersive experiences are enhanced by stimulating senses, making experiences more realistic and engaging. They are used in training fields like driving and flight simulators.</li> <li>Virtual Reality (VR) is a 3D computer-generated situation that simulates the real world, allowing users to interact with and explore the environment. VR is achieved with headsets and can promote other sensory information for a more realistic experience.</li> <li>Augmented Reality (AR) is the superimposition of computer-generated information over existing physical surroundings, adding digital components to the physical world. AR provides additional information about the user’s surroundings, often used in location-based apps.</li> <li>Unlike VR, AR alters the perception of the physical world instead of creating a new one.</li> <li>Robotics is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the design, fabrication, operation, and application of robots, requiring applications from mechanical engineering, electronics, and computer science.</li> </ul> <p>Note: The text mentioned a question about drones in natural calamities and an activity about robots in the medical field, but they were not part of the main text and were not included in the summary as per the instructions.</p> <p>======</p> <h5 id="324-robotics">3.2.4 Robotics</h5> <ul> <li>A robot is a programmable machine that can perform tasks with accuracy and precision.</li> <li>Sensors are crucial components of robots, which can be of various types such as wheeled, legged, manipulators, and humanoids.</li> <li>Robots are used in different fields, including industrial, medical science, scientific research, military, and more.</li> <li>Examples of robots include NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover (MER) and Sophia, a humanoid that uses AI, visual data processing, and facial recognition.</li> <li>Drones are also considered robots, which can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously through software-controlled flight plans, and are used in various fields such as journalism, shipping, disaster management, agriculture, wildlife monitoring, and law-enforcement.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="33-big-data">3.3 BIG DATA</h5> <ul> <li> <p>The rapid advancement of technology has led to an exponential increase in data creation, with over a billion Internet users and a significant portion of web traffic coming from smartphones.</p> </li> <li> <p>This data creation is happening at a rate of approximately 2.5 quintillion bytes per day, a pace that is accelerating with the continuous evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT).</p> </li> <li> <p>The data generated is of enormous volume and complexity, referred to as Big Data, which cannot be processed and analyzed using traditional data processing tools.</p> </li> <li> <p>Big Data is unstructured, coming from sources like posts, instant messages, photographs, tweets, blog articles, news items, opinion polls, audio/video chats, etc., and presents challenges in integration, storage, analysis, searching, processing, transfer, querying, and visualization.</p> </li> <li> <p>Despite these challenges, Big Data holds high business value, as it contains rich information and knowledge, leading to a keen interest in developing software and methods to process and analyze it.</p> </li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="331-characteristics-of-big-data">3.3.1 Characteristics of Big Data</h5> <ul> <li>Big data is characterized by its enormous size, making it difficult to process with traditional DBMS tools.</li> <li>It has a higher rate of generation and storage compared to traditional data sets.</li> <li>Big data consists of varied data, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data such as text, images, and videos.</li> <li>Veracity refers to the trustworthiness of big data, which can be inconsistent, biased, or noisy, leading to potential issues in data collection and processing.</li> <li>Big data has the potential to possess hidden patterns and useful knowledge of high business value, but a preliminary enquiry is necessary to ensure the potential for value discovery.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="332-data-analytics">3.3.2 Data Analytics</h5> <ul> <li>Data analytics is the process of examining data sets to draw conclusions.</li> <li>It is done with the help of specialized systems and software.</li> <li>It is gaining popularity in commercial industries for informed decision-making.</li> <li>In science and technology, it can verify or disprove models, theories, and hypotheses.</li> <li>Pandas, a Python library, can simplify data analysis.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="34-internet-of-things-iot">3.4 INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)</h5> <ul> <li> <p>The “Internet of Things” (IoT) refers to a network of devices with embedded hardware and software to communicate with each other.</p> </li> <li> <p>IoT allows devices, such as microwaves, air conditioners, and door locks, to connect to the Internet and be remotely controlled using smartphones.</p> </li> <li> <p>This network of devices aims to work collaboratively and intelligently, reducing the need for human intervention.</p> </li> <li> <p>IoT devices in a typical household currently operate in isolation, requiring manual input and operational directions.</p> </li> <li> <p>IoT tends to bring together these devices, enabling them to communicate and assist each other, creating a more efficient and interconnected system.</p> </li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="341-web-of-things-wot">3.4.1 Web of Things (WoT)</h5> <ul> <li>Web of Things (WoT) is a concept that aims to integrate various devices in the physical world with web services for efficient communication.</li> <li>It provides a unified interface to connect all devices, eliminating the need for multiple apps to interact with different devices.</li> <li>WoT has the potential to create smart environments like homes, offices, and cities by connecting everything on the web.</li> <li>It builds on the existing web infrastructure, making it possible for things to communicate with each other in a smart and efficient manner.</li> <li>GPS is currently used for outdoor navigation, and a similar technology called VPS, which uses Augmented Reality, is emerging with other potential utilities.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="342-sensors">3.4.2 Sensors</h5> <ul> <li>Sensors in mobile phones, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes (gyros), detect changes in orientation and rotation.</li> <li>Accelerometers detect the orientation of the phone, while gyros track rotation or twisting motions.</li> <li>Smart sensors are devices that take input from the physical environment, perform predefined functions upon detection of specific input, and then process data before passing it on.</li> <li>Sensors are commonly used in real-world applications and are contributing to the evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT).</li> <li>The development of new sensor-based, intelligent systems is expected with the advancement of smart electronic sensors.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="343-smart-cities">3.4.3 Smart Cities</h5> <ul> <li>Rapid urbanization is leading to increased challenges in managing resources like land, water, waste, air pollution, health and sanitation, traffic congestion, public safety, and security.</li> <li>The idea of a smart city involves using computer and communication technology, along with IoT, to manage and distribute resources efficiently.</li> <li>Smart buildings use sensors to detect earthquake tremors and warn nearby buildings, while smart bridges and tunnels use wireless sensors to detect any loose bolts, cables, cracks, leakages, or congestion.</li> <li>These wireless sensors can send information across a network of sensor nodes to a centralized computer for further analysis.</li> <li>Every sphere of life in a city, including transportation systems, power plants, water supply networks, waste management, law enforcement, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services, work in unison to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="35-cloud-computing">3.5 CLOUD COMPUTING</h5> <ul> <li>Cloud computing is a trend in IT where services are delivered over the Internet.</li> <li>It is accessible from any device, from anywhere, and resources include software, hardware, databases, and storage.</li> <li>Companies providing these resources are called cloud service providers, and they charge on a pay-per-use basis.</li> <li>Cloud computing allows users to run applications or process large amounts of data without requiring high storage or processing power.</li> <li>It offers cost-effective, on-demand resources and is used for storing pictures, files, and hosting websites.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="351-cloud-services">3.5.1 Cloud Services</h5> <ul> <li>Cloud services can be categorized into three standard models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).</li> <li>IaaS, such as servers, virtual machines, storage, and network components, allows users to configure, deploy, and execute software applications on a rented infrastructure.</li> <li>PaaS offers a platform for developing, testing, and delivering software applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. It reduces the complexity of buying and managing hardware and software.</li> <li>SaaS provides on-demand access to application software through licensing or subscription. Users can access software like Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365, and Drop Box without installation or configuration.</li> <li>These cloud service models allow users to use infrastructure, platform, or software on-demand and are typically charged based on usage, eliminating the need for upfront investments.</li> <li>The Government of India has launched “MeghRaj” (GICloud) to utilize and harness the benefits of cloud computing.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="36-grid-computing">3.6 GRID COMPUTING</h5> <ul> <li>Grid computing is a network of geographically dispersed and heterogeneous computational resources, creating a virtual supercomputer with enormous processing power and storage.</li> <li>Grid computing is more application-specific than cloud computing, and nodes temporarily come together to solve large tasks.</li> <li>There are two types of grid computing: data grid (managing large, distributed data) and CPU or processor grid (moving processing or dividing tasks among nodes).</li> <li>Grid computing differs from IaaS cloud service in that it involves multiple computing nodes solving a common problem, rather than a service provider renting infrastructure.</li> <li>The Globus toolkit, an open-source software toolkit, is used for building grids, implementing distributed processor architecture, and providing security, resource management, data management, communication, and fault detection.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="37-blockchains">3.7 BLOCKCHAINS</h5> <ul> <li>Blockchain technology is based on a decentralized and shared database, where each computer has a copy of the database, ensuring data security.</li> <li>A block in blockchain contains some data called its header, and the blocks form a chain. Once written, the data in a block cannot be altered.</li> <li>Blockchain technology ensures transaction safety and security, as all members in the network keep a copy of the blockchain.</li> <li>The most popular application of blockchains technology is in digital currency, but it also offers potential in business and governance systems.</li> <li>Blockchain can be useful in diverse sectors such as healthcare for better data sharing, land registration records to avoid disputes, and voting systems for transparency.</li> <li>Two additional areas where blockchain technology can be useful are supply chain management for transparency and security, and intellectual property rights management for proof of ownership.</li> </ul> <p>======</p>