Wednesday, January 5, 2011

IBM's 5 in 5

The annual IBM's "Five in Five" forecasts five innovations likely to be developed in the next five years. This year's predictions are:
  1. "Citizen scientists" will collect real-time data about their environment using sensors in cars, phones or wallets, which can then be used by professional scientists for research.
  2. Holograms will become commonplace. People will be able to interact with far-away friends in 3D, using something as commonplace as a cellphone.
  3. Today's batteries will become obsolete. Cellphones may be powered by batteries that run on oxygen, and static or kinetic energy may eliminate batteries altogether for smaller devices.
  4. Instead of wasting the massive amounts of energy needed to cool them, computer and data centers will recycle the heat energy the machines generate, potentially helping to power cities.
  5. Adaptive traffic systems will personalize your commute, anticipating congestion and other issues to get you to work with a minimum of road rage.
Source: Los Angeles Times
 

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