Emerging Technologies and Applications of Computing
Emerging-technology questions test what AI, cloud, IoT, blockchain and related systems are, and how to choose them appropriately.
Emerging technology categories
Artificial intelligence (AI) builds systems that perform tasks associated with human intelligence; machine learning (ML) is a subset that learns patterns from data. Cloud computing delivers computing resources over a network in IaaS, PaaS and SaaS models. IoT connects sensors and devices to networks. Blockchain is a distributed, append-only ledger. AR overlays digital content on the real world; VR creates a simulated environment. Big data refers to high volume, velocity and variety; 5G improves mobile bandwidth and latency.
Worked example
A school needs email, online storage and a learning-management system without buying servers. SaaS is appropriate: the provider manages infrastructure, platform and application; users access services through a browser and pay by subscription. If the school instead needs virtual machines and full OS control, IaaS fits. If developers need a managed runtime for their own app, PaaS fits. Matching the service model to control and responsibility is the key reasoning.
Traps that cost marks
- Treating AI and ML as synonyms; ML is one approach within AI.
- Saying cloud computing means the Internet; it is a delivery model for computing resources.
- Thinking blockchain data can be quietly edited; changing a block breaks the chain unless the network consents.
- Ignoring privacy, bias and data-quality issues when adopting these technologies.