The
rat race in technological innovation is happening in a light speed. Various platforms
are continuing to intertwine different fields of specialization to provide
solutions from complex to mundane problems of everyday life. One of the pillars
of such breakthroughs is computer programming. With all these changes
happening, there are two questions relevant to ask today. How will computer
programming impact the future? Where do we go from here?
Accenture
held "Shaping the Future Forum 2012" last Thursday, 26th July 2012 at
Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Manila. In partnership with Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT), Accenture invited Srini Devadas, MIT professor of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science, to lecture about "Programming the
Future" which aimed at keeping technology professionals abreast with the
latest trends and developments in computing and programming.
There
have been a lot of developments in programming. "What about the next 40
years?" asked Srini. Logically, it is appropriate to ask what the next
chapter will be after the introduction of new programming languages and coding
platforms which gave birth to new disruptive technologies. The next part of the
talk centered on three computing paradigms playing a significant role in
technology: Programming for Everyone, Big Data and Crowds to Clouds.
Programming for Everyone
According
to Srini, in the near future, millions of programmers will need to write
billions of lines of correct code. These require coding methodologies such as
Graphical Programming, which allows element manipulation using graphical means
instead of standard texts, and Programming in English, a method used in
programming data structure codes.
Big Data
Financial Markets Causality Connections |
The results were more accurate compared to the FICO score method. Machine learning applies sophisticated analytics to big chunks of data.
Crowds to Clouds (c2c)
Cloud Computing. Photo Credit: Aisha Hasan |
Cloud
computing is the future. Despite of its infancy stage, tech giants Amazon,
Google, Microsoft and even Oracle, to name a few, have joined the cloud
provider's club. The cloud's seamless accessibility, security and storage are a
magnet to enterprises and startup companies. Srini perceives the future with
billions of people using devices to connect to trillions of processors in the
cloud. To illustrate this vision, project cartel, a pothole finding
application, uses sensors from GPS, WIFI and cellular triangulation to measure
and localize traffic delays allowing people to spend less time in traffic.
Another example is Twit info which synthesizes interesting information based on
raw twitter feeds.
More on Artificial Intelligence
Diving
into more unconquered charters, Srini asked "What is the future of
Artificial Intelligence?" According to him, combining the strengths of
human and machine is the way to go to create synergy in Artificial
Intelligence.
What will the world be like in
2050?
In
general, Srini's talk characterized the future with technology playing a big
role to achieve its maturity. Its presence will be felt across major aspects of
human life. Climate change will utilize Green software by means of using Big
Data. The future will seek to predict unpredictable weather patterns.
Autonomous driving will be seen in the field of transportation. In the health
sciences, personalized system genomics will allow to track generations of
ancestral origins and determine predispositions to diseases and determine
preventive measures.
Personal Systems Genomics |
Srini
concluded his talk by saying that programmers are in a great field since
computer programming will be a major driver of growth and opportunities. No one
really knows what the future will be. It will all depend on the present
generation of IT professionals to lead the way in shaping the future.