IBM / Gartner call Watson type tech 'Smart Machines'. They extend that definition out to things like HP Autonomy, Google, and other systems that integrate huge

IBM / Gartner call Watson type tech 'Smart Machines'. They extend that definition out to things like HP Autonomy, Google, and other systems that integrate huge amounts of data in order to make decisions that seem almost inteligent. The message is that 'this is the next step in / new Big Data'. Huge companies that spend loads on R&D have amassed a base of proprietary technologies which provide them a real competitive advantage. Like bioinformatics, jet packs, and (well hell, big data), I'd say the vision (presented as current reality) is probably far ahead of what will be possible in reality in the next 10 years. Clearly, Watson was able to answer structured questions it had been specifically prepared for, with a certain amount of pre-work done parsing the problem to get it into an easily computer solvable form. This not the startrek computer, which can answer any questions. It needs a programmer to show it how to answer each specific type of question. But it is cool. The majority of knowledge still lives in word docs and power points, in spoken meetings and peoples heads. If this developing set of technologies allows us to work with that amorphous info bulk, even in a simple way, you can see the potential for humand development.