In five years: Computers that see, hear, touch, taste and smell

The brains at IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) have released a series of five predictions, all focused on what computers will be in five years. And not only will computers not be dead, they’ll be even more lifelike than ever.

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In fact, IBM’s predictions all revolve around human senses: according to their soothsayers, in five years computers will make advances in touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell. It’s all part of what’s called cognitive computing – computers that can think, react and behave like a human. Computers that understand their environment, and can react to improve it.

In this video, IBM introduces cognitive computing:

Prediction #1: In five years, computers will have a sense of smell to sniff out disease.

Prediction #2: In five years, you will be able to touch through your phone.

Prediction #3: In five years, a computer system will know what I like to eat better than I do.

Prediction #4: In five years, computers will not only be able to look at images, but understand them.

Prediction #5: Five years from now computers, will hear what matters.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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Jeff Jedras
Jeff Jedras
A veteran technology and business journalist, Jeff Jedras began his career in technology journalism in the late 1990s, covering the booming (and later busting) Ottawa technology sector for Silicon Valley North and the Ottawa Business Journal, as well as everything from municipal politics to real estate. He later covered the technology scene in Vancouver before joining IT World Canada in Toronto in 2005, covering enterprise IT for ComputerWorld Canada. He would go on to cover the channel as an assistant editor with CDN. His writing has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, the Ottawa Citizen and a wide range of industry trade publications.

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