With 2016 soon to be a memory, we have a lot to look forward to in 2017. Microsoft is also looking to the future, both next year and more into the distance. The company’s researchers have polled 17 women that work within the research division. The survey asked the participants what technological advances are expected in 2017 and by 2027.
Among the predictions are continued progress in machine learning, virtual reality, and natural language processing.
Speaking of natural language processing, Kalika Bali, researcher, India research lab says applications will become multilingual in 2017. This means more than just being available in more language. Instead, apps will be able to understand Multilanguage speech and understand it more accurately.
By 2027 this process will have moved on significantly. “Language models will be deeply entrenched in cognitive models that enable artificial intelligence (AI),” Bali says. “Computational sociolinguistic and pragmatic models will play a big role in creating socio-culturally aware AI.”
Katja Hofmann, researcher, Cambridge, U.K., research lab says “In 2017 computer games will take center stage in the development of AI. Experimentation platforms based on games, such as Project Malmo — which my team and I have developed to enable AI experimentation in Minecraft.”
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is already starting to make an impact on several markets. Microsoft is among the companies leading the development of VR solutions. By 2027 the market would have grown into one of the main forms of entertainment. However, VR applications will have more usefulness besides just keeping us entertained.
France says by 2027, virtual reality will change to a level of being able to manipulate perceived reality for the user:
“By 2027 we will have ubiquitous virtual reality systems that will provide such rich multisensorial experiences that will be capable of producing hallucinations which blend or alter perceived reality. Using this technology, humans will retrain, recalibrate and improve their perceptual systems. In contrast to current virtual reality systems that only stimulate visual and auditory senses, in the future the experience will expand to other sensory modalities including tactile with haptic devices.”
