Big Data and Machine Learning: Where Are We Heading To?

A couple of months ago, my 13 year old cousin sat at our kitchen table and looked at me dubiously as I recalled one of the most desired gadgets I had when I was his age, a simple pocket calculator. Today, he and his friends have such a dizzying array of'toys' designed to amuse, educate and stimulate, that the wonder of a hand-held calculating machine is completely lost on him. What I don't think he realises, is the true potential of the extraordinary technical revolution we are blessed to be living in, where lifestyle devices are only some of the first widely recognised results. The next wave of sophisticated tools, many of which are being perfected by teams of specialists, will truly change our lives – and society as a whole. Just imagine a society in which potential illnesses are identified before we even contract them, or are tracked before they spread, in which we can control air pollution and reduce energy consumption, or where a healthy meal, thanks to technology, is cooked to perfection before anyone gets home.