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Why has it taken so long to crack the speech processing puzzle? Why do we find speech processing so effortless and machines find it so daunting? And what progress can we expect in the next few years?
What can we learn from history about how deeply the internet could transform news in the 21st century? And how does it relate to broader social and economic trends?
Professor Wilks will discuss the notion of an artificial Companion, a long-term software agent that could be present in any device: a screen, handbag or even a furry toy - and which understands the person it 'lives' with.
Physicist John Wheeler asked the famous 'It from bit?' question: what if at its heart the universe is not a collection of particles, forces and fields but rather a collection of bits?
To mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, the legacy of Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), first president of democratic South Africa, will be considered - both within his country and in the wider world.
We shall investigate the implications for the future of international conflict and of national defence. If preparations for the next war have already started, can we tell who is winning?
Many televisions, baby monitors, central heating and even light-bulbs are already connected to the internet but this is only the start. Why is this happening? How will all this data be processed? And what are the benefits and the risks?