Whether you like it or not, technology has become an inextricable aspect of everyday life, which means the more you know about technology, the better. However, technology can be an incredibly complex thing to learn about, which is why this article aims to highlight and explain some important areas, so that you know what you’re talking about.
Artificial and Virtual Intelligence
The idea of creating machines that can think for themselves has been a part of science fiction for a long time and comes from a core idea in technology that a machine that can act on its own would be far more versatile and useful than one limited to specific instructions input by a designer. This actually outlines the difference between virtual and artificial intelligence perfectly. Virtual intelligence is whereby a machine is designed to react very specifically to inputs expected by its designer, whereas artificial intelligence learns from a series of inputs so that it can function more effectively over time.
Integrated Circuits
An integrated circuit is a highly important aspect of technology, allowing the development of some of the most impressive pieces of technology designed to this day. Suffice it to say that this particular piece of technological engineering is instrumental to almost every machine that exists today.
How Does it Work? An integrated circuit refers to a set of electric circuits all combined in a single chip in order to perform a specific task. They are likely better known as microchips and are usually made from a wafer of semiconductor material upon which the circuits are made. Depending on the purpose of the microchip, the circuits will vary, but their fundamental purpose remains to facilitate the functionality of the final product.
Coding Languages
The process of creating any kind of application, software, or anything else on a computer requires the use of computer code in some capacity. Without code, a computer would be completely unable to do anything.
How Does it Work? In essence, code works as a set of instructions that a computer can follow in order to complete a function, which allows programmers to create, well, programs for use on a computer. The various computer languages act as different instruction sets that you use in different situations.
Robotic Vacuum Cleaners
Finally, one of the more useful innovations in technology is the implementation of automatic home-care machines, such as robot vacuum cleaners, which will trundle around the house and clean for you. While these are not the only machines that will automate household chores for you, they are one of the most iconic.
How Does it Work? The concept behind these robot cleaners is quite simple: you make a machine that has a vacuum built in and that will move in a straight line until it gently collides with something, making it adjust course. The entire feat comes into being with a small amount of technical design and coding. Of course, more complicated models will follow preset paths, but this is a simple extrapolation of the functionality already built into the machine, having it turn at set points rather than when it hits an object.
— Featured photo by Flickr user whyohwhyohwhyoh, Creative Commons