7.2

DNA storage

DNA has double the capacity of binary as it has 4 different states (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine

1g of DNA can store 215PB of data (equivalent to 8 data centres)

very stable - a DNA sample has been recovered that was 2m years old

energy efficient - DNA in an encapsulated, tightly sealed shell should preserve DNA for hundreds of thousands of years at room temp

quantum

rapidly developing area based on 3 principles

entanglement

inteference

superposition

research into the area is carried out by

Cambridge Uni

Google

IBM

Microsoft

MIT

Oxford Uni

theory

a quantum computer performs operations + calculations based on the probability of an object's state, before it is measured/observed (the qubit)

the qubits can be on/off/both on and off at the same time (superposition)

pairs of qubits can be entangled - meaning the state of one is not able to be changed without affecting the state of the other

applications

analysis of big data

AI

cyber security

maths/science based problem solving

medical drug development

quantum internet

could enable quantum computers, and other quantum devices, to be interconnected and communicate through the teleportation of qubits

will consist of a network of many remote quantum computers where the qubits will be sent between

most probable use is in cyber security

quantum cryptography

qubits can degrade/get lost when using traditional transmission method such as fibre optic cables - meaning quantum signals between quantum computers have a high error rate and cannot travel long distances

by moving the process of creating encryption keys to quantum technology, the probability of the keys being deciphered can be decreased

QKD - quantum key distribution

IoT

system of interrelated, internet-connected objects which collect and transfer data wirelessly without human intervention

four pillars

people

processes

data

things

people

how people connect to the internet has changed dramatically

they now use wearable technologies and smart devices which have changed how to obtain + collect info

process

the objects within the IoT are the 'things'

the things are embedded within software, sensors, and other technologies which enables them to connect and exchange data with other devices + systems over the internet

IoT sensors are used to monitor the operating conditions of equipment + machinery, and the data captured is processed + analysed by advanced machine learning algorithms (helps predict failures of equipment - keeping reduction in productivity, costs, and downtime to a minimum)

data

can be maximised into more useful info for decision making

one of the main functions of the IoT is to gather huge amounts of data to improver operations + functionality

things

the physical devices and objects connected to the internet + each other

AI

the development of computer systems to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence

purpose = to learn + solve problems without human intervention

2 types

weak

strong

aka narrow AI

AI only focuses on 1 task

programmed by a person so simulate actions of one

can carry out a range of functions + enventually learn to solve a new problem itself

machine learning

application of AI here computer systems automatically learn + improve with experience without being programmed

deep learning

function of Ai that imitates how the brain works with respect to processing data + creating patterns in order to make decisions

used effectively in the manufacturing sector

quickly analyses data + identifies patterns, so can identify anomalies quickly

more specific version of machine learning

uses neural networks to facilitate non-linear thinking

challenges

jobs will be lost to machines, but also new ones created by them that require the unique abilities of people

will have economic, legal, + regulatory impact on society - e.g. self driving cars

issue of privacy being compromised due to the increased volume of data collection

non linear thinking - the ability to make connections + draw conclusions from unrelated concepts/ideas

positive impacts

can improve the efficiency of the workplace + the work people do dramatically

can take over repetitive + dangerous tasks which allows the human workforce to take on work that involves creativity + empathy

helps improve monitoring of patients in healthcare - helping reduce operating costs + save the money that could be used to hire more staff

personal treatment and drug plans can be made for patients

gets rid of 'human error' during processing in businesses - improving quantity and quality of goods

extended reality

forms

AR

VR

MR

augmented reality

allows an object/concept to be brought to life that otherwise would have had to be imagined

can be used to guide someone through a task, navigate a new environment, or provide a real time description of what is happening around them

computer generated simulation of a 3D image/environment

can be interacted with in a very real/physical way

has been implemented into the military for training

totally immersive - visual + sound based experience

reduces costs + risks of training

mixed reality

blends the real-world environment + digitally created content which co-exist + interact with each other in real time

not fully immersive as it includes a link to the real world

content seen through MR will react in the same way it would irl

used in the car industry to prototype cars

blockchain

chain of blocks that stores data + info

extremely hard to change/remove data once recorded in a blockchain

enable a permanent record + history of transactions

permanence of the record is based on the permanence of the network

are a software protocol - need the internet to function

referred to as meta-technology as they are made up of several technologies (incl database, software app, + internet-connected devices

transaction - when something is added to a blockchain

initial block is called the Genesis block

each block contains

data/info

hash

hash of prev block

a hash is unique to the block it is assigned to + identifies the block + the data it holds - when the contents of the block changes, the hash changes

so secure as each block contains the hash of the prev block

types

public

large, distributed networks that operate using a native token

anyone can participate at any level

has open source code that the community maintains

eg bitcoin, but the blockchain is the technology that facilitates it, it is not the actual thing

permissioned

control the roles people have when managing/accessing the blockchain network

large, distributed system that uses a native token

it facilitates cryptocurrency

e.g. ripple

private

smaller than public + permissioned blockchains

does not normally need a token for access

people who can access it are controlled + limited

tend to be used by consortiums who have very trusted members who trade confidential info

3D printing

the process of making a 3 dimensional object froma digital file using an additive process

advantages

cost

limited waste

quality + consistency

the object is made from a digital file using CAD, so once the prototype has been created + amended then the printer will create the same quality + design everytime

only uses 1 machine (the printer) and so only 1 machine has to be bought

cost advantage as there is less waste and so the amount of materials needed are reduced

the printer will only use the exact amount of material needed

disadvantages

manufacturing job losses

using a printer means that less people are needed to operate machinery

job losses are inevitable

high initial cost

the printers + materials used are expensive

can lead to businesses charging a higher price for the object

5G

designed to provide faster download speeds, low latency, + greater capacity

5G cells expand mobile networks by boosting capacity as users need it (eg in a stadium/at a festival

also enables billions of devices to be connected, IoT, + AI

8 specification requirements

up to 10Gbs data speed

1ms latency

up to 1000x the bandwidth per area compared to 4G

up to 100x the number of devices connected per area compared to 4G

99.999% availability

100% coverage

90% reduction in network energy useage

up to 10 year battery life for low power IoT devices

Drones

aircraft without a pilot

aka UAV (unmanned areail vehicle)

RPA - remotely piloted aircraft (drone flown via remote control)

can be autopilot enabled for some of/all of the flying time

originally developed for military use

can provide 24/7 surveillance

air time of 17 hours

live video feedback

uses

archaeology

disaster relief

emergency services investigations

film + tv

infrastructure inspections

farming

military

to fly a drone in the Uk, the CAA require users to register + take a test which must be passed before the user can legally fly