Understanding AI and Machine Learning: A Beginner's Guide

Have you ever wondered how an online shopping site knows exactly what
to recommend to you, or how you can ask your phone to play your
favorite music with just a spoken instruction? These modern
conveniences, and many more, are made possible by powerful
technologies that are changing the world.

This guide provides a clear and simple explanation of two of the most
important concepts behind these technologies: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
and Machine Learning (ML). If you're new to the topic, this is the perfect
place to start. Let's begin by exploring the big idea behind AI.

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1. What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? The Big Idea

At its core, Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of a machine

or a computer program to think, learn and evolve. The central goal
of the field revolves around creating technologies that can operate in a
way that resembles human intelligence.

In simple words, the field of AI revolves around bringing out technologies

that help build machines that can think, act, and learn like humans.

An AI-based program is designed with two key capabilities in mind:

1. Mimic Human Thought This means the system should be able to

learn from new experiences, exposure to new ideas, and even past
mistakes. This ability to learn from past experiences, decisions, and
outcomes is known as heuristics. It's what allows an AI to create
and update its knowledge base with minimum human intervention.

2. Act in a Human-like Way Beyond just processing information, AI

aims to act in a way that is intelligent, rational, and ethical. This
means the system should be able to make the right decisions in an
ethical manner, much like a person would be expected to.

AI in Your Daily Life

AI is no longer science fiction; it's already a part of our daily lives. Here
are a few common examples:

 Siri and Alexa (personal assistants on our phones and in our

homes)

 Google's NEST (smart home devices that learn your preferences)

 Self-driving cars by Tesla (vehicles that can navigate roads

autonomously)
  Social humanoid robot Sophia (an advanced robot that has been
awarded citizenship of Saudi Arabia)

 Online games like Alien: Isolation (games with intelligent,

adaptive opponents)

Many of these incredible AI systems are powered by a specific approach

called Machine Learning. This is the 'how' behind a machine's ability to
learn.

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2. How Do Machines Learn? An Introduction to Machine Learning

(ML)

Machine Learning (ML) is a sub-area of artificial intelligence. It is an

application of AI that provides systems with the ability to automatically
learn and improve from experience without being explicitly
programmed. The focus of ML is to develop algorithms that enable
computers to recognize patterns in data and make decisions on their own.

An Analogy: Learning Like a Child

A helpful way to understand Machine Learning is to compare it to how a

human child learns. If you want a child to learn how to identify a specific
object, you might show them many different images of it. Through this
process, the child learns to recognize the object on their own. Machine
Learning works in a very similar way.

An ML system is "trained" by processing large amounts of data. In this

process, there are two key components:

 Training and Testing Data: This is like the 'images' or 'examples'

the machine is shown to learn from.

 Algorithms (Models): These are the 'methods' the machine uses

to identify patterns and relationships within the data.

Through this process, the computer is enabled to "learn"—that is, it is

trained to identify certain patterns and to distinguish between
them. With repeated such trainings and feedback, the system evolves
and eventually can make its own predictions when it encounters new,
unseen data.

This fundamental process of learning from data is what enables the vast
array of intelligent applications we now use every day, from our phones to
our cars.

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3. Machine Learning in Action: From Your Phone to Your Car

Machine Learning has found applications in almost every area of our

modern lives, from the content we see online to the systems that keep us
safe. The following table highlights some of the most common
applications.

Application Area Examples

Personal Virtual assistants (Siri, Cortana, Google Now), Online

Assistance chatbots

Content & Recommendation engines (Amazon), Filtering

Commerce algorithms for news feeds, Google Ads

Recognition & Facial recognition, Surveillance systems, Predictive

Security policing

Advanced Autonomous ("self-driving") vehicles, Political

Systems campaigns

One of the most powerful and widespread applications of ML is in teaching

computers a very special skill: the ability to understand our language.

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4. A Special Skill: Understanding Human Language with NLP

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a specialized field within machine

learning. Its formal definition is: an artificially intelligent technology
that helps computers understand, interpret and manipulate
human language and even potentially generate human language.

Many of the digital tools we use every day are powered by NLP. It's the
technology that bridges the gap between human communication and
computer understanding. Here are some of the most common applications
you likely use every day:

 Spell Check: Helps prevent typos and grammatical errors in our

writing.

 Autocomplete: Suggests the next word you might want to type,

making messaging and writing faster.

 Speech-to-text: Converts your spoken words into written text for

voice commands or messaging.

 Spam Mail Filter: Analyzes incoming emails to identify and hide

junk mail from your inbox.
  Machine Translation (Google Translate): Translates text from
one language to another almost instantly.

 Sentiment Analysis: Determines the emotional tone behind a

piece of text (e.g., positive, negative, or neutral).

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5. Conclusion: Your Foundation in AI and ML

You now have a foundational understanding of the key concepts driving

modern technology. The most important takeaway is the relationship
between our two core topics: AI is the broad goal of creating intelligent
machines, and ML is a key method that allows those machines to learn
from data to achieve that intelligence.

It is predicted that in the coming years, AI will grow tremendously. AI-

based machines are expected to outperform humans in tasks such as
translating languages, writing school essays, and driving trucks. However,
more complicated tasks like operating in place of a surgeon or creating
heart-touching emotional books will take machines much more time to
learn. By understanding these fundamental concepts, you have taken the
first step toward appreciating and navigating the future of technology.

Briefing Document: Emerging Technology

Trends
Executive Summary

This document synthesizes key insights on several emerging technology

trends that are fundamentally reshaping industries and daily life. The core
technologies examined include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its sub-fields,
the paradigm of Big Data and analytics, the expanding ecosystem of the
Internet of Things (IoT), advanced computing models like Cloud and Grid
Computing, and the disruptive potential of Blockchain technology.

AI is evolving to create machines that can think, act, and learn like
humans, with applications spanning from personal assistants to
autonomous vehicles. A key driver of AI's progress is Machine Learning
(ML), which enables systems to learn from data without explicit
programming. The Internet of Things is creating a vast, interconnected
network of devices that generate unprecedented volumes of data, a
phenomenon known as Big Data. Characterized by its Volume, Variety,
Velocity, Veracity, and Value, this data is harnessed through Data
Analytics to derive actionable insights.
Supporting these data-intensive technologies are advanced computing
paradigms. Cloud Computing provides on-demand, scalable access to
shared resources over the internet, offered through models like SaaS,
PaaS, and IaaS. In parallel, Grid Computing enables large-scale,
distributed computation by linking geographically separate computers.
Finally, Blockchain Technology offers a new model for trust and security
through a decentralized, immutable ledger, with profound implications for
finance, supply chain management, and beyond. Together, these trends
represent a significant shift in how information is processed, shared, and
utilized.

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1. Artificial Intelligence and its Domains

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the capability of a machine or computer

program to think, learn, and evolve. The fundamental goal of the field is to
build machines that can replicate human intelligence by thinking, acting,
and learning.

An AI-based program or technology is expected to exhibit two primary

characteristics:

1. Mimic Human Thought: It should be able to simulate human

thought processes, including learning from new experiences and
adapting to new ideas. This ability to learn from past experiences is
known as heuristics.

2. Act Like a Human: It should be capable of intelligent, rational, and

ethical behavior, allowing it to make sound decisions in a human-like
manner.

AI systems are designed to operate with minimal human intervention,

continuously creating and updating their knowledge base by learning from
past outcomes and mistakes.

Key Examples of AI in Use:

 Social Humanoid Robots: Sophia, which has been granted

citizenship of Saudi Arabia.

 Personal Assistants: Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa.

 Smart Home Devices: Google's NEST.

 Autonomous Vehicles: Self-driving cars produced by Tesla.

 Online Gaming: The game Alien: Isolation.

It is predicted that within the next five to ten years, AI-based machines
will outperform humans in tasks such as translating languages, driving
trucks, and writing essays.

1.1. Machine Learning (ML)

Machine Learning is a sub-field of AI that gives systems the ability to

automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly
programmed. ML refers to the ability of computers to independently find
solutions to problems by using statistical techniques to recognize patterns
in large databases.

The process involves using specific algorithms, called models, and data
sets for training. Through repeated training and feedback using training
and testing data, the system evolves, learning to identify specific
patterns and make predictions.

Common Applications of Machine Learning:

Category Examples

Personal Assistants Google Now, Microsoft Cortana, Apple Siri

Recommendation
Amazon's product recommendations
Engines

Content Filtering Algorithms for news feeds

Advertising Google Ads business intelligence

Autonomous Systems Self-driving vehicles

Biometrics Facial recognition

Surveillance systems, Predictive policing

Security & Policing
(PREDPOL)

Data Processing Optical character recognition

Political Strategy Political campaigns

1.2. Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP is a field within AI and machine learning focused on enabling

computers to understand, interpret, manipulate, and generate human
language. The system identifies the appropriate word, phrase, or response
by analyzing context, much like a human does.

Everyday Examples of NLP:

  Spell Check and Autocomplete

 Voice Text Messaging (Speech-to-text) and Audio Output (Text-to-

speech)

 Spam Mail Filtering

 Information Extraction (e.g., Gmail creating calendar events from

emails)

 Information Retrieval (e.g., keyword searches on search engines)

 Machine Translation (e.g., Google Translate)

 Sentiment Analysis

 Question/Answering Systems (e.g., Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)

1.3. Extended Reality (XR)

Extended Reality is an umbrella term for technologies that enhance

human senses and provide an immersive experience. It includes Virtual
Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR).

 Virtual Reality (VR): Creates a completely immersive, artificially

generated 3D environment that feels real. VR experiences are
typically pre-scripted and block the user's view of the physical
world, often through the use of a helmet or goggles.

 Augmented Reality (AR): Superimposes digitally generated

images and information onto the user's view of the real world, thus
altering their perception of their physical surroundings. This is
typically achieved using a smartphone's camera and screen.

 Mixed Reality (MR): A technology that combines elements of both

AR and VR.

Comparison of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR):

Feature Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Reality (VR)

World A mix of the real and virtual Creates an entirely virtual

View worlds. world.

Allows users to interact with both It is hard to differentiate

Interactio
the real and virtual worlds what is real from what is
n
simultaneously. not.

Mechanis Typically achieved by holding a Typically achieved by

m smartphone in front of you. wearing a helmet or
 goggles.

Your screen becomes your

Environm The world becomes your screen
world (e.g., 25% Real, 75%
ent (e.g., 75% Real, 25% Virtual).
Virtual).

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2. Big Data and Data Analytics

Big Data is a term used to describe extremely large and complex data
sets that are beyond the capacity of traditional database management
tools to process and analyze effectively. An immense volume of data is
generated every "Internet minute."

Data Generation in One Internet Minute (2019 vs. 2018):

Activity Data Generated in 2019 Data Generated in 2018

YouTube Videos
4.5 Million 4.3 Million
Viewed

Texts Sent 18.1 Million N/A

Google Searches 3.8 Million 3.7 Million

Facebook Logins 1 Million 973,000

Apps Downloaded 390,030 375,000

Tinder Swipes 1.4 Million 1.1 Million

Instagram Scrolls 347,222 174,000

Tweets Sent 87,500 481,000

2.1. The Five Characteristics of Big Data

Big Data is defined by five key characteristics, often called the "Five V's":

1. Volume: The enormous quantity of data generated, which is too

large to be stored or processed by conventional databases.

2. Variety: The diverse types of data, including structured (text,

numbers, dates) and unstructured (photos, videos, audio, likes,
comments).

3. Velocity: The high speed at which data is generated and must be

processed, often in real-time.
 4. Veracity: The accuracy, quality, and trustworthiness of the data.
Low-veracity data, or "noise," can be meaningless or misleading.

5. Value: The ultimate goal of collecting and analyzing big data is to

process it in a way that generates valuable and actionable
information for an organization.

2.2. Data Analytics

Data Analytics is the process of discovering hidden patterns, trends, and

preferences from data sets by employing specialized methods, programs,
and systems. The objective is to enable informed business decisions, such
as targeted marketing, improved customer service, and the identification
of new opportunities. The Python programming language, with its Pandas
library, provides tools for such data analysis.

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3. The Interconnected World: IoT and Smart Cities

3.1. Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology that allows computing

devices to be programmed to connect to the internet and transfer data
over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer
interaction.

Key Application Areas of IoT:

 Health and Fitness: Smart gadgets like Fitbit and Jawbone monitor
heart rate, blood pressure, and daily activity.

 Home Security: Systems for surveillance, motion detection, and air

quality control.

 Transport: Driverless cars that are always connected to servers.

 Shopping: Smart refrigerators that can automatically order

groceries when supplies are low.

 Smart Cities: Integrated systems for surveillance, transportation,

energy management, and water distribution.

3.2. Web of Things (WoT)

The Web of Things (WoT) is a framework with the vision of connecting

everyday smart devices and objects to the Web using existing Web
technologies and standards (such as URI and HTTP). Unlike IoT, which may
require specialized technology for interconnection, WoT re-uses the
common standards of the web to allow smart devices to communicate.
3.3. Sensors and Smart Sensors

 Sensors are devices that measure a physical quantity (like

temperature, pressure, or motion) and convert it into a signal.
Common types include Temperature, Proximity, Accelerometer,
Pressure, Light, Ultrasonic, Smoke, Gas, Touch, Color, Humidity, and
Gyroscope sensors.

 Smart Sensors are intelligent sensors that can convert measured

quantities into digital data, process that data, transmit it wirelessly,
and perform some level of decision-making. They have on-board
microcontrollers that enable capabilities like digital processing and
two-way communication.

3.4. Smart Cities

A Smart City is a framework that uses Information and Communication

Technologies (ICT), IoT, and digital technologies to provide services, solve
urban problems, and improve the quality of life and sustainability for its
citizens.

Goals of a Smart City:

 Improve transportation and social services.

 Enhance efficiency and reduce waste (e.g., streamlined trash

collection).

 Maximize social inclusion.

 Improve energy distribution and decrease traffic congestion.

A smart city functions with an intelligent network of connected objects

(IoT), cloud-based applications, and citizen engagement through mobile
devices to create a responsive and efficient urban environment.

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4. Advanced Computing Paradigms

4.1. Robotics

Robotics is a branch of technology that deals with physical robots, which

are programmable machines capable of carrying out a series of actions
autonomously or semi-autonomously. They interact with the physical
world using sensors and actuators. While many robots perform repetitive
mechanical tasks, a branch of robotics focuses on creating artificially
intelligent robots that can think and act like humans.

Examples of Robots:
  Aerospace: Mars Rover

 Domestic: Robonaut (household chores)

 Disaster Management: Japan’s Packbot (used at Fukushima)

 Logistics & Delivery: Drones, Amazon's warehouse robots

 Humanoids: Honda’s Asimo, Sophia

4.2. Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing is a model for delivering on-demand computing

services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and
analytics—over the Internet ("the cloud").

Five Essential Characteristics:

1. On-demand self-service: Users can provision resources as needed

without human intervention.

2. Broad network access: Services are accessible over standard

networks and devices.

3. Rapid elasticity: Resources can be scaled up or down quickly.

4. Resource pooling: The provider's resources are shared among

multiple customers ("tenants").

5. Measured service: Cloud usage is monitored, controlled, and

reported for billing.

Cloud Service Models:

 Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers a complete software

application over the internet. Users do not manage the underlying
infrastructure. Examples: Google Apps, Salesforce, Microsoft Office
365.

 Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides a platform for customers

to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of
building and maintaining the infrastructure. Examples: AWS Elastic
Beanstalk, Google App Engine, Windows Azure.

 Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Offers fundamental

computing infrastructure, including virtual machines, storage, and
networking resources. Examples: Amazon EC2, Google Compute
Engine, Rackspace.

Cloud Deployment Models:

  Public Cloud: Owned and operated by a third-party provider for
multiple subscribers.

 Private Cloud: Resources are used exclusively by a single

organization.

 Hybrid Cloud: A combination of public and private clouds.

 Community Cloud: Shared by several organizations with common

concerns.

4.3. Grid Computing

Grid Computing is a form of distributed computing where a network of

independent, geographically dispersed, and heterogeneous computers are
linked to work together on a common task. It harnesses unused
processing power to tackle problems that are too large for any single
computer. Its best use case is for applications that can be broken down
into many independent, parallel computations.

Types of Grids:

 Computational Grid (Compute Grid): Focuses on providing

computational power for parallel execution.

 Data Grid: Focuses on providing an infrastructure to store and

manage large volumes of distributed data.

4.4. Comparison: Grid vs. Cloud Computing

Criteria Grid Computing Cloud Computing

Allocation of multiple Virtualization of servers; one

Means of
servers onto a single server to compute several tasks
Utilization
application. or services concurrently.

Typical Typically used for job More frequently used to support

Usage execution for a limited time long-running services (Service
Pattern (Application Oriented). Oriented).

Task Single application focus. Multiple services focus.

Computatio Maximum computing power

On-demand services.
n Service for one application.

Infrastructu Decentralized, spans A central server with a single

re geographically distributed access point, can span multiple
sites, lacks central control, data centers, contains
contains heterogeneous homogeneous resources,
 resources. operated under central control.

Virtualization of hardware,
Virtualizati Virtualization of data and
software, and storage
on computing resources.
platforms.

GridGain, JPPF, JBossCache, Google Drive, Microsoft Azure,

Examples
EhCache. AWS, iCloud, Office 365.

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5. Blockchain and Decentralized Technology

Blockchain Technology provides a decentralized, digitized, public ledger

of all online transactions occurring among a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. It
creates a secure and transparent system where transaction data is
distributed across all participants, eliminating the need for a central
authority like a bank.

5.1. Core Concepts and Terminology

 Block: A secured and encrypted chunk of data that stores the

details of a valid online transaction. It has a public header and
private transaction details accessible only to the owner.

 Blockchain: A group of blocks linked together in a linear,

chronological order, forming a complete and permanent trail of all
transactions.

 P2P Network: A distributed network where each participant

computer maintains, approves, and updates new entries. All
participants have equal power, contrasting with the traditional
client-server model.

 Public Ledger: A publicly available record of all confirmed and

linked blocks since the very first transaction.

 Mining: The process of validating a transaction and adding it to the

public ledger.

5.2. How Blockchain Works

1. A user requests a transaction, which is broadcast to a P2P network

of computers (nodes).

2. The network of nodes validates the transaction and the user's status
using algorithms.

3. Once verified, the transaction is combined with other transactions to

create a new block.
 4. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block,
securely chaining them together. This hashing makes the chain
immutable; altering any block would invalidate all subsequent
blocks.

5. The new block is added to the existing blockchain, creating a

permanent and unalterable record.

6. The transaction is complete.

5.3. Types of Blockchains

 Public Blockchains: Open to anyone to read, submit transactions,

or participate in the consensus process. They are permissionless.
Examples: Bitcoin, Ethereum.

 Private Blockchains: Controlled by a single organization that

determines access and participation rights.

 Consortium Blockchains: The consensus process is controlled by

a pre-selected group of organizations.

 Semi-private Blockchains: Run by a single company that grants

access to users who meet pre-established criteria.

5.4. Benefits and Applications

Blockchain technology is the underlying framework for cryptocurrencies

like Bitcoin but is distinct from them. Its applications extend far beyond
finance.

Benefits:

 Time Effectiveness: Real-time transaction processing.

 Cost Reduction: Direct P2P transactions eliminate intermediaries

and overheads.

 Enhanced Security: Reduced risks of cybercrime, fraud, and

tampering due to cryptographic linking and decentralization.

 Transparency: Provides a clear and unchangeable record of

creation and tracking.

Application Areas:

 Healthcare

 Voting mechanisms

 Banking and Finance

 Asset management
  Insurance claim processing

 Passports

 Property registrations

Study Guide: Emerging Trends in

Technology
Quiz: Short Answer Questions

Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each, based

on the provided context.

1. What are the core abilities an AI-based program is designed and

programmed to have?

2. Explain the primary difference between Augmented Reality (AR) and

Virtual Reality (VR) in terms of how a user experiences the world.

3. How does Machine Learning (ML) enable a system to learn and

improve without being explicitly programmed for every task?

4. What is the main objective of Natural Language Processing (NLP),

and provide two common examples of its application.

5. Define what a robot is and describe its fundamental characteristics

according to the text.

6. What are the five key characteristics used to define Big Data?

7. What is the fundamental purpose of the Internet of Things (IoT)?

8. Describe the three main cloud service models and provide an

example for one of them.

9. How does Grid Computing differ from Cloud Computing in its typical
usage pattern and infrastructure?

10. Explain how the "chain" aspect of a blockchain helps ensure

the security and integrity of the transaction ledger.

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Answer Key

1. An AI-based program is designed to work with minimum human

intervention, create and update its own knowledge base by learning
from past mistakes and outcomes, mimic human thought processes
like learning from new experiences, and act in a human-like way
that is intelligent, rational, and ethical.
2. Virtual Reality (VR) completely blocks the existing reality and
creates an entirely new, artificial virtual world, often experienced
through specialized hardware like goggles. In contrast, Augmented
Reality (AR) superimposes digitally generated imagery, information,
or characters onto the user's view of the real world, enhancing it
rather than replacing it.

3. Machine Learning, a sub-area of AI, uses specific algorithms called

models and data sets to independently find solutions to problems by
recognizing patterns. The system learns from experience through
training and testing data, and with repeated exposure and feedback,
it evolves and improves its ability to make predictions.

4. The main objective of NLP is to help computers understand,

interpret, manipulate, and even generate human language in a way
that is meaningful. Two common examples of NLP in daily use are
spell check functions in word processors and spam mail filters in
email services.

5. A robot is a programmable machine that is usually able to carry out

a series of actions autonomously or semi-autonomously. Its
fundamental characteristics are that it is programmable and it
interacts with the physical world via sensors and actuators, which
are the devices that move the robot's joints.

6. The five characteristics of Big Data are: Volume (enormous amount

of data), Variety (different types of structured and unstructured
data), Velocity (the high speed at which data arrives), Veracity
(the accuracy and trustworthiness of the data), and Value (the
potential for the data to be converted into something valuable).

7. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology that allows computing

devices (from home appliances to industrial sensors) to be
programmed and connected, enabling them to transfer data over a
network. Its fundamental purpose is to achieve this data transfer
without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer
interaction.

8. The three main cloud service models are Infrastructure as a Service

(IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service
(SaaS). An example of SaaS is Google Apps or Microsoft Office 365,
where a complete application is offered to the user on demand over
the internet without needing installation.

9. Grid Computing is typically used for a single application or job

execution over a limited time, distributing the task across a
decentralized system of heterogeneous resources. Cloud Computing
 is more frequently used to support long-running, on-demand
services and applications, operating on a centralized server with
homogeneous resources.

10. In a blockchain, each new block of transactions contains a

"hash" of the previous block, creating a linked chain in proper, linear
chronological order. This hashing mechanism makes forgery
impossible because altering any historical block would change its
hash, breaking the chain and being immediately rejected by the
network.

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Essay Questions

Instructions: Prepare to answer the following questions in a detailed essay

format.

1. Discuss the relationship between Artificial Intelligence, Machine

Learning, and Natural Language Processing. Explain how these fields
are interconnected and provide specific examples of applications
that leverage all three.

2. Compare and contrast Cloud Computing and Grid Computing.

Analyze their differences in terms of means of utilization, task
structure, infrastructure, and virtualization, as outlined in Table 10.2.

3. Explain how the five characteristics of Big Data (Volume, Velocity,

Variety, Veracity, and Value) present challenges for traditional data
processing systems. Use the data from the "What Happens In An
Internet Minute" infographic to illustrate the concepts of Volume and
Velocity.

4. Describe the complete lifecycle of a transaction on a blockchain,

from the initial request to its final addition to the ledger. Detail the
roles of the P2P network, nodes, validation, and the creation of a
new block.

5. Trace the progression of immersive technologies from Virtual Reality

(VR) to Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR). Explain how
each technology alters a user's perception of reality and discuss the
practical applications for each, such as in gaming, smart cities, or
healthcare.

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Glossary of Key Terms

Term Definition
 Refers to the ability of a machine or a computer
Artificial
program to think, learn and evolve. It revolves around
Intelligence
bringing out technologies that help build machines that
(AI)
can think, act, and learn like humans.

A technology that superimposes a computer-generated

Augmented image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing
Reality (AR) a composite view. It enhances the real world with new
elements, hints, graphics, or characters.

A term used to describe extremely large data sets that

Big Data
traditional database applications cannot deal with.

A block refers to a secure data chunk that stores

encrypted details of a valid transaction that has
Block
occurred online. A block consists of a header and
private details of the transaction.

The group of linked blocks, which are related to each

Blockchain other and are in a proper, linear chronological order. It
stores the complete trail of transactions.

A decentralized, digitized, public ledger of each of the

Blockchain
online transactions (mostly financial, but not always)
Technology
occurring among a network of peers.

The Internet-based computing, whereby shared

Cloud resources, software, and information are provided to
Computing computers and other devices on demand, like the
electricity grid. The "cloud" represents the Internet.

A medium of exchange, created and stored

electronically in the blockchain, using encryption
Cryptocurrency
techniques to control the creation of monetary units
and to verify the transfer of funds.

Refers to discovering hidden patterns, trends and

preferences, from the data set by employing
Data Analytics
specialised methods, programs, software and
specialised systems.

Extended An umbrella term that covers all of the various

Reality (XR) technologies that enhance our senses and gives us
immersive experience. It includes Virtual Reality (VR),
 Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR)
technologies.

A form of distributed computing that involves the

Grid Computing coordination and sharing of geographically distributed
networked computational resources.

Provides basic storage and computing capabilities as

Infrastructure
standardized services over the network, including
as a Service
servers, storage, firewalls, load balancers, and virtual
(IaaS)
local area networks.

A new age technology that allows computing devices to

Internet of transfer data over a network like Internet without
Things (IoT) requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer
interaction.

An application of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides

Machine
systems the ability to automatically learn and improve
Learning (ML)
from experience without being explicitly programmed.

The process of confirming a transaction after validation,

Mining
and adding it to the public ledger.

Mixed Reality A combined technology that makes use of both

(MR) Augmented Reality (AR) as well as Virtual Reality (VR).

Natural An artificially intelligent technology that helps

Language computers understand, interpret and manipulate
Processing human language and even potentially generate human
(NLP) language.

The type of network used in blockchain technology

P2P Network
where each participant computer within the network
(Peer-to-Peer
maintains, approves and updates the new entries. Each
Network)
participant has equal power.

Provides a development environment as a service, upon

which other higher levels of service can be built. PaaS
Platform as a
provides the computing platforms which typically
Service (PaaS)
include operating system, programming language
execution environment, database, and web server.

Public Ledger A record of all confirmed transactions' linked blocks

since the first transaction. It is available in the form of a
 blockchain.

Programmable machines that are usually able to carry

Robots out a series of actions autonomously, or semi-
autonomously.

Devices which measure some physical quantity (like

Sensors temperature or change in director etc.) and convert it
into some type of signals.

A city that uses ICT and digital technologies along with

Smart City IoT, to provide services and solve city problems with
improved quality and sustainability.

Intelligent sensors that can convert the measured

quantities into digital data, digitally process them,
Smart Sensors
transmit them and can perform some form of decision
making.

A service where a complete application is offered to the

Software as a customer, as a service on demand. The service provider
Service (SaaS) allows the customer to use applications on some
through some client.

An artificially created world with the help of visual and

Virtual Reality
virtual elements. VR completely blocks the existing
(VR)
reality and creates a fantasy universe.

A framework with a vision where everyday's smart

Web of Things
devices and objects, are connected the Web using
(WoT)
existing Web technologies and standards.