Computers Are Your Future 2008 PrenticeHall Inc Slide

Computers Are Your Future © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Slide

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Emerging Technologies © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Tomorrow’s Hardware: Smaller, Faster, Cheaper, Connected Nanotechnology: Ø The art of manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale especially to build microscopic devices Biochip: Ø Like a computer chip that processes biological instructions © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 3

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Moore’s Law & Metcalfe’s Law Moore’s Law: Ø Microprocessors and miniature circuitry will double in circuit density and, therefore, processing power every 18 to 24 months. Metcalfe’s Law: Ø The value of a computer network grows in proportion to the square of the number of people connected to it. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 4

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 The Short Term The Typical Personal Computer: 1999 and 2008 Short Term Prediction Component RAM Processor Speed (instructions per second) Circuit Density (number of transistors) Hard Disk Capacity Average Internet Connection Speed © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1999 2008 64 MB 4 GB 400 million 9. 6 billion 7. 5 million 250 million 8 GB 600 GB 56, 000 bps 6 million bps 5

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Computers Everywhere Automated Highway Systems (AHS): Ø Information is passed between vehicles and highways to prevent collision. Digital Forensics: Ø Computers are used to fight cybercrime and computer crime. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 6

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Computers Everywhere Biological Feedback Devices: Ø Translate eye movements, body movements, and brain waves into computer input ü Virtual Reality: Ø Immersive 3 D environments that are computer-generated © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 7

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Virtual Reality Users can use helmets and sensor-equipped gloves to experience VR. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 8

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Virtual Reality Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE): Ø Projects stereoscopic images onto walls to create a virtual environment Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML): Ø Language used to creates virtual environments online © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 9

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Computers Everywhere Chemical Detectors: Ø Computers are used to detect traces of explosives in airports. Tactile Displays: Ø Haptics – sense of touch Ø Researchers are developing tactile displays that stimulate skin to generate a sensation of contact. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 10

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Artificial Intelligence: Toward the Smart Machine? Ø Artificial intelligence is the ability to endow computers with intelligence. Ø It has only been partially successful due to the obstacles encountered. Ø Programs cannot function intelligently outside the context for which they are designed. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 11

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Defining Intelligence There is no clear consensus on what intelligence really is. Intelligence involves some or all of the following abilities: Ø Ø Ø Learn and retain the learned knowledge Reason on the basis of this knowledge Adapt to new circumstances Plan (develop strategies) Communicate Recognize patterns © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 12

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Defining Intelligence Compared to the human brain, computers accept smaller amounts of input and have poorer pattern recognition skills, but they calculate and output faster than humans. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 13

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 The Turing Test Ø British computer scientist Alan Turing suggested that a computer is intelligent if a group of unbiased judges cannot tell the difference between computergenerated and human output. Ø Many believe the test is too simplistic. Ø Programmers have created programs to trick the judges. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 14

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Neural Networks Neural networks are computers that mimic the structure of the human brain. Ø Computers composed of hundreds of thousands of tiny, interconnected processors © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 15

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Pattern Recognition Ø Computers using a digital camera and pattern recognition software can process what is being seen and then draws connections between the patterns perceived and the patterns stored in a database. Ø This technology is used to recognize suspicious movement in buildings. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 16

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Intelligent Agents Ø Agents are automatic programs that help the user. Ø The programs communicate with the user, understand their needs, and offer assistance. Ø Microsoft’s Office Assistant is an example. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 17

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Machine Translation Ø Machine translation is using computers to translate foreign text automatically. Ø Resolving ambiguities is problematic. Ø One program can translate 300, 000 words per hour, but results contain many errors. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 18

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Genetic Algorithms Ø Based on evolutionary theory, genetic algorithms involve creating artificial intelligence by developing laboratory conditions in which the most intelligent programs survive. Ø Algorithms are placed in a computer environment and allowed to mutate; one algorithm emerges as the best at tackling the problem. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 19

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Strong Artificial Intelligence Ø Area of research based on the conviction that computers will achieve artificial intelligence equal to that of humans § CYC–to create a computer that knows as much as a 12 year old § COG–insect-like humanoid robot § Kismet–sociable humanoid robot that can learn and interact with humans © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 20

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Robots A robot is a computer-based device programmed to perform motions that can accomplish useful tasks. ØJapanese-made Partner-type Personal Robot (Pa. Pe. Ro) – responds to human interactions. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 21

Computers Are Your Future Spotlight 8 Robots Industrial robots are performing tasks such as assembly, welding, material handling, and material transport. © 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 22