Artificial intelligence environment computing quietly rises Amazon Google has seized the opportunity

It is hard to believe that the computer device ENIAC, which could occupy the entire room 75 years ago, had a full weight of 30 tons, and became a hero in the field of digital computing in the Second World War. Since then, technology has evolved and converged into countless applications including the Internet, Internet of Things, big data, mobile, virtual and augmented reality, as well as machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Today, these applications run faster and ubiquitously than ever before, and they become even less conspicuous. This environmental computing world, or the world of intelligent intelligence, will continue to release a new wave of waves that fundamentally change our lives and lifestyles.

In general, environmental computing covers applied machine learning and other forms of artificial intelligence programs, which are characterized by proximity to human cognition, behavior, and contextual awareness. It creates a digital environment in which companies seamlessly integrate technology into everything around us to maximize their effectiveness.

Cisco's IoT expert Rowan Trollope sums up the hope behind this technology, saying: "Environmental computing and artificial intelligence will provide a better experience."

The age of AI-driven smart environments has arrived

Environmental computing has provided many daily services ranging from voice-driven smart speakers in the kitchen to intelligent thermostats. Virtual digital assistants or chat bots have also made great progress by integrating AI technology. Solution developers call the future AI era "the era of intentions" - robots can use the information added from the database to associate with the current investigation environment to obtain the user's intentions. If successful, these robots will improve all customer-facing areas such as sales, customer service, and marketing.

More related scenarios will soon become possible, perhaps in the near future, the technology will be embedded in homes, grocery stores, offices, hospitals and even transportation services.

Although the term "environmental computing" has existed since the 1990s, the beginning has only just begun. Gartner mentioned environmental computing in its 2016 Technology Trends report, stating that by 2018 it will be the main differentiation between independent software vendors and companies.

For this time point, the forecast is still optimistic, after all, several leading suppliers have already put forward this idea in the latest strategic announcement. Of course, Amazon’s Echo and GoogleHome are already being used as environmental computing products. Although people pay more and more attention to environmental calculations, this concept has not yet become the mainstay. More and more companies will participate in the battle in this field.

Fundamentally change the experience

Changing the experience fundamentally means improving efficiency and providing a better life. Some applications can pay great attention to our health and prevent diseases. FitbitAltaAR is an early example. It is conceivable that the food in the refrigerator or even the restaurant where it used to remind the user how to choose food and drink and detect physical activity.

In this case, the user is like having his own digital coach. He can change his behavior in a seamless and continuous manner and at the same time customize according to the user's preparation and preferences. The result may be extended to the user. While feeling happy, the burden on the health care system is reduced.

Interrelated environmental intelligence

Gartner also proposed a "device grid," which connects devices to back-end systems over a network to achieve environmental intelligence. Historically, devices have been isolated from one another or only exist in limited networks. Gartner believes that the device grid lays the foundation for a new, continuous environmental user experience. How do they work?

According to a report in the USA Today, IoT sensors will send people's movements and daily habits to the cloud, and AI systems will absorb data and optimize the instructions of smart devices that execute environmental computing scenarios. This is a fast-growing area, which means that almost everything in the future is interrelated and intelligent.

Now, the application of environmental computing and artificial intelligence is more of an outlook for the future. The current products only hint at what will happen in the near future.

Forever warning

Although it is easy to believe that all the application scenarios and applications being launched are positive, some may be unpleasant and even make people feel that they have been violated. Computing intelligence is everywhere, and as the IEEE described in an article, perhaps we should worry about environmental overloads, in which case interfaces, connections, and sensors will all be inevitable.

In the public and digital fields, the future may strengthen supervision but lose privacy. Just like the theme expressed by Dave Eggers' novel The Circle, vigilance is the price of freedom!