Emerging Technologies and IT Applications
Emerging Technologies and IT Applications tests what technologies do, their benefits/limits, and Indian applications.
Core ideas
- Artificial intelligence (AI) enables machines to perform tasks needing human-like judgement; machine learning (ML) learns patterns from data; generative AI produces text/images. AI outputs can be biased or wrong-verify.
- Internet of Things (IoT) connects sensors/actuators to networks: smart meters, wearables, smart agriculture. Security and privacy are major risks.
- Cloud computing delivers computing over the internet: IaaS (infrastructure), PaaS (platform), SaaS (software). Public/private/hybrid models; pay-as-you-go.
- Big data is characterised by volume, velocity, variety, veracity, value; analytics extracts insight.
- Blockchain is a distributed ledger with chained, tamper-evident blocks; cryptocurrency is one application, not the whole technology.
- AR overlays digital content on the real world; VR immerses users in a simulated environment; 5G offers higher speed and lower latency.
- Indian applications: UPI digital payments, DigiLocker, Aadhaar-enabled services, e-governance, telemedicine, online education, smart cities, precision farming.
Worked example
A small school wants email, online docs, and video meetings without buying servers. SaaS is suitable: the provider runs the software, the school pays a subscription, and users access it through a browser. Reasoning: IaaS would provide virtual machines the school must administer; PaaS supports app development; SaaS delivers ready applications. Check data residency, privacy, backup, and exit terms before adopting.
Traps
Do not equate AI with robots or blockchain with Bitcoin only. Do not call cloud computing “the internet”. Do not ignore bias, privacy, and dependence on connectivity. Do not assume emerging tech is always better; assess cost, skills, and risk. In exams, match the technology to the exact use case.