Emerging Technologies and New Trends
Domain focus
Emerging Technologies and New Trends tests what AI, IoT, cloud computing, blockchain, big data, AR and VR, 5G, robotics and biometrics are, plus realistic benefits and limitations.
Core rules and concepts
- AI and ML systems learn patterns from data to classify, predict or generate; they are not automatically conscious or always accurate.
- IoT connects sensors and actuators to networks; examples include smart meters and wearable health monitors.
- Cloud computing provides computing resources on demand (IaaS, PaaS and SaaS); it is a delivery model, not the Internet itself.
- Blockchain is a distributed, append-only ledger; cryptocurrency is one application, not the definition.
- Big data is characterised by volume, velocity, variety and veracity; analytics extracts patterns.
- AR overlays digital content on the real world; VR creates a simulated environment. 5G offers higher bandwidth and lower latency, but coverage varies.
Worked example
A farm uses soil-moisture sensors connected to a gateway. Sensor data goes to a cloud service that predicts dry periods; when moisture falls below a threshold, an actuator starts irrigation. Benefits: water savings and remote monitoring. Risks: sensor failure, poor rural connectivity, cost, and insecure devices being hijacked. Reasoning: the system is IoT plus cloud analytics plus automation; each layer adds a dependency that must be tested and secured.
Traps that cost marks
Equating AI with simple automation; saying blockchain means Bitcoin only; treating cloud computing as the Internet; assuming 5G is available everywhere; and listing emerging technologies without linking them to a concrete use and limitation.