IBM has just released their annual five year look into the future.
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The Youtube video in which the predictions are presented starts out by describing "citizen scientists" who use sensors for mass data researchers. These citizen scientists are already using sensors that are on computers, phones, and application that will be mass produced. The data can be used to collect local data, as specific as understanding when mosquitoes first appear in a specific neighborhood. This new shared data could even help bigger things such as helping out in the aftermath of an earthquake by sending out the data on site to other networks.
Perhaps one of the biggest predictions in the prediction of 3D holograms. Technology has already gone this way in terms of interactivity with the Wii and the new Xbox Kinect. Along with video games, movies are already heading the way of 3D, with the recent surge of 3D releases and even 3D televisions. IBM predicts that we'll be able to use 3D holograms in exciting new ways in the future. Such as using it as we're walking down the street, conversing with someone in another location, or even use it to work with people from other countries.
While some might have called 3D holograms from what technology already offers us, some people might not expect their next prediction, which is "batteries will breath air to power our devices." Sounds nice, doesn't it? Battery life will last about ten times longer than today, and in some smaller devices, the use of batteries might be eliminated all together from the use of static or kinetic electricity.
The third IBM prediction of the next fives years is that adaptive traffic systems will use personalized recommendations to get travelers where they need to go. Real time data will be used to predict congestion spots and where traffic accidents have occurred, and present to travelers real time information on the best route. This new advanced GPS system will provide users with information such as the busiest traffic times in a particular city, and it is predicted that traffic commutes will be shortened because of this real time data system.
IBM's predictions this year sound very reasonable. It might be worth taking their word on these predictions, since IBM is one of the biggest funders when it comes to companies investing in future research projects. Could we be seeing these things within the next five years?

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