Microsoft Thinks The Future Of Information Technology Lies In Intelligent Technology

IT, or Information Technology, according to Webster’s is “the technology involving the development, maintenance, and the use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing and distribution of data.” We’ve been using this term to describe computer technology since the 70s, but Microsoft wants to change that.

In a blog post on Microsoft’s technet blog, the company said that its annual TechForum, which was hosted at Microsoft’s HQ this week, was focused on the move from information technology to intelligent technology. What this means is that computers will no longer play a passive role in our everyday lives as an input tool, but rather take part in our lives in a meaningful way. Machines, such as your smartphone or tablet, will learn just as much from you as you learn from it.

The TechForum event was focused on the three ways that Microsoft is helping lead the charge into a future of intelligent technology:

The Arrival of Big Data: The massive explosion of data from machines, sensors and people—along with the broad availability of affordable cloud services at scale—are bringing us powerful new tools that turn data into insight.

Systems That Learn: 21st-century computers aren’t just told what to do—they learn. Dramatic improvements in machine learning are leading to systems that can absorb the vast amounts of data we are collecting, discern knowledge, and project futures.

More “Human” Natural User Interfaces (or NUI): This is a topic we’ve covered a great deal here on NEXT—and a trend that includes speech, gesture, and touch to interact with computing systems. Yet NUI is much more than simply those input modalities. It enables a world where technology understands what we are doing and what we need or want. As a result, our interactions with computing systems will be more like working with an expert helper with human-like senses.

All three of these technologies will become more important over the years as our relationship with computers grows deeper. More technologies will also undoubtedly emerge over the next few years that will make us rethink our relationship with computers yet again. All of this leads us to the idea that technology is not merely something that humanity creates, but rather its a living, breathing creation that evolves alongside mankind. Moving to rename information technology to intelligent technology is the first step to realizing our intertwined future with machines.

[Image: Microsoft]

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